Topsy Ojo aims to put wind in Irish's Sales for January
James Walker-Roberts • Published 5 Jan 2012 17:00
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TOPSY Ojo believes this Sunday's clash with Sale Sharks is not only crucial for London Irish's Premiership ambitions, but also their Heineken Cup hopes.
Exiles go into the match sitting sixth in the table after the 30-3 defeat at Bath on New Year's Day - their heaviest loss in the league in over five years.
And, with the Premiership taking a break for over a month following this weekend's fixtures, a second defeat of the season to Sale would keep Irish nearer the foot of the table than the summit for all of January.
Just as significantly, a loss would be far from ideal preparation for Irish's last two Heineken Cup pool matches, both of which are must-win games.
"Sale is a massive match for us," Ojo told the Chronicle. "If we win then it will keep us in a good position for the rest of the month and it would also put us in decent form and a better mood for the Cardiff game.
"The defeat to Bath last weekend was massively disappointing for everyone and now we have a chance to put that right by beating Sale."
When the two teams met earlier in the season it was Sale who came out on top by a single point in a 30-29 victory.
Since then the Greater Manchester club have trod a similar path to Irish in the Premiership and sit level on points heading into the clash on Sunday.
Ojo added: "It's so tight in the middle of the table with teams like Leicester, Northampton, Sale and us and we need to put two or three wins together to stay in touch.
"We lost to Sale at their place so hopefully we can come good on Sunday and bounce back."
Ojo has been a key player for Irish this season and signed a deal in December that will see him stay at the club until at least the end of the 2013/14 season.
The 26-year-old was the third highest try scorer in the league last year and with four tries to his name this year, he is looking forward to the second half of the campaign.
"So far I've only missed one game so it's great to be in the team and I want to keep playing games and scoring tries," he commented.
"I don't worry too much about scoring, though, if I create opportunities for others and play well then chances will come and I am confident that I can take them."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 05 Jan 12
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