Geoff Griffiths column

Plymouth Albion full-back

In the middle of a typically brutal pre-season schedule, James Owen (fitness coach) and Graham Dawe created what would become known as the "three weeks of death"

It was great to get the new Championship season off to a winning start on Saturday.

You can't get a better result than a five-pointer, so the whole squad was obviously delighted with our 33-10 victory over Bees.

The game was a personal milestone for me, marking my competitive return to action after undergoing a serious operation on my foot at the end of February.

After a long summer of rehab and rebuilding, I was itching to get out there and play.

This new season has seen a number of new faces at Albion.

We have assembled an exciting young squad and have been working very hard on our team ethos ahead of the new season.

Over the summer we could be found camping in fields, shooting each other with replica weapons, and running up and down sand dunes all in the name of team building.

In the middle of a typically brutal pre-season schedule, James Owen (fitness coach) and Graham Dawe created what would become known as the "three weeks of death"; a series of challenges that were devised to help us grow closer personally as well as fitter physically.

For certain members of the squad (no names mentioned) a 16-mile run on Dartmoor was a particular low point, while others felt that an eight-mile run along a beach, up sand dunes and through the cold sea off Cornwall was a step too far.

Having to work through these situations as a group has really helped to build a strong team spirit that I am sure will repay us as the season progresses.

This Sunday sees us travel to my former club Rotherham for a tricky first away fixture.

Clifton Lane is always an intimidating place to play rugby and Rotherham will be looking to register a good result after losing their opening game away to Coventry.

We are feeling confident after a reasonable performance at the weekend but are very aware of how tough it is to pick up points at Rotherham.

After missing both Rotherham games last year due to injury, I am personally looking forward to the game and I'm sure I will get some form of special "welcome" from a few old friends.