Tim Usasz, Nottingham

Barking return from two-week break to face rivals Blackheath

Barking head coach Tim Usasz is hoping they still have the momentum on their side after an enforced two-week break from National One rugby.

The Goresbrook side, currently second bottom in the league, were without a fixture the previous weekend due to a league-wide break in fixtures, and then saw their scheduled clash with bottom side Birmingham & Solihull called off last Saturday due to a frozen Damson Park pitch.

That is not the height of his disappointment as Barking have had a disruptive preparation for this weekend’s encounter with Blackheath at Gale Street, with the lack of training facilities available due to the inclement weather conditions.

“We have had a couple of enforced weeks off now, but having the Birmingham game called off had its positives in that we were without Andrew Henderson, Steve Wood and Rod Turner because of them away at the Vegas Rugby Sevens event,” said Usasz. “It also gives the guys with niggles and small injuries another week to heal fully.

“But training has been quite disruptive with the weather, as we have been unable to find a facility last Thursday, and only had a stop start session on Tuesday at a local sports centre.

And the American international is hopeful that their break doesn’t halt their momentum gained after thei20-19 win over Fylde in their last outing.

“There is that worry of the break in action affecting us,” added the former Nottingham scrum half.

“Coming off the back of strong performance against Fylde, and then having a two week break isn’t great, but the hope is that the boys still have that enthusiasm for a big clash against Blackheath this weekend.”

On the injury front, fly half Chris Ashwin and prop Eddie Ambrose are nearing a first team return after injury, and if Usasz is unable to strengthen before the February 24 deadline, he is content with the existing squad

“Our squad is pretty strong now, and with Chris and Eddie back in the next couple of weeks that gives me a core of around 25 players to choose from if they are all fit and available,” he added.

“I am still looking at one or two options but if they do not come through then I am happy with the squad we have.”

The postponed Birmingham & Solihull game has been re-arranged for February 25, previously a blank weekend.