Page: Esher can do it (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Page: Esher can do it

1:00pm Friday 28th October 2011 in Esher By Mark Bengoechea

Esher team manager Dave Page is backing Esher to end their nightmare run in Saturday’s home clash with Doncaster Knights.

The Surrey side are rooted to the foot of the Championship after eight successive defeats and have failed to collect a solitary bonus point.

But Page insists the attacking flair Esher showed in Sunday’s 34-18 reverse at second-placed Cornish Pirates has lifted spirits ahead of the Knights showdown.

Canada World Cup star Phil Mackenzie capped a fine individual display with a try while an earlier score from hooker Kevin Corrigan edged Esher into an 18-17 half-time lead.

But Esher, with Charlie Walker impressing on the wing, also missed two gilt-edged chances in the second half and in the end of Pirates’ powerful set-piece proved decisive.

Page insisted: “That was the best attacking rugby we have produced all season and we should have scored a couple more tries.

“It was a great try from Mackenzie. His return has been a big plus and Andy Wright is playing so much better alongside him.

“Mackenzie is such a talented player. He has added that spark and it is starting to come together now and we really believe somebody will be on the end of a hiding.

“But I appreciate it’s all very well saying that. We have got to put the all-round performance together in attack and defence.

“We have got a great bunch of guys and they are all hurting from this run. But they all believe they can get out of it and are all still upbeat.

“We haven’t had any easy games in this run and have obviously been suffering from a lack of players with so many injuries.

“But I firmly believe the next four games against Doncaster, London Scottish, Leinster in the British and Irish Cup and Leeds at home are all winnable.”

Esher could be boosted by the availability of dual-registered Harlequins players Rob Buchanan and Charlie Matthews for the Doncaster match.

England Under-20s lock Matthews, whose dad Stephen also played for Esher, has been a regular at Quins this season, but could be in line for his debut off the bench.

Esher have also added to their firepower up front with the loan signing of prop Cameron Zeiss from Leeds.

The 21-year-old South African-born player’s chances at Headingley are expected to be limited following the return of United States prop Mike MacDonald from World Cup duty.

But Esher have suffered a big blow with the news that centre Tom Cheeseman is expected to be out until the New Year.

The former Bath and Harlequin star has impressed on his return from a knee injury only to suffer a torn pectoral muscle against Bristol.