By A Nomad
September 23 2013

Albion 34 Moseley 34On Friday 20th September the Royal Navy in Plymouth celebrated 50 years of them being granted ‘Freedom of the City of Plymouth’.  Albion did their bit by offering ‘Matelots’ free admission to The Brickfields for the Albion Moseley game.The match started with Albion kicking off towards the Club House.  They started with all guns blazing and tore into Moseley like Drakes ships did to the Spanish Amada.  Moseley fielded the kick off but the attempted clearance kick was charged down and within the first minute of play Dan Mugford was lining up his first penalty kick, needless to say he converted easily.  That wasn’t enough for our fly half.  Albion were soon on the attack and Dan was running under the post for, in old parlance, a goal. 

Moseley began to get some possession mainly down to poor discipline.  The ‘Master at Arms’ and his two ‘Regulators’ were finding a variety of indiscretions which resulted in Moseley chipping away at Albion’s lead.  Albion scored another ‘goal’ when Heath Stevens went over for a try converter by Dan.  So it was the backs that had the wind in their sails playing exhilarating open rugby.  However Toby Howley-Berridge was spending some time in the ‘Brig’ for a late tackle.

The forwards, not to be out done, went for a successful catch and drive from a line out following a penalty kick into touch down by the Supports’ Marquee.  Sam Matavesi having the honour of actually touching down again this became a ‘goal’ thanks to Dan.

Again Albion conceded a kickable penalty but Moseley’s Thomas put his kick high and just wide of the right hand post.  Tom Bowen then scored what is becoming one of his trade mark tries to sprint over from a long way out.  Again Dan coverts and Albion had earned a four try bonus point for the second match running.  Not known at the time but that was the high tide mark of Albion’s marvellous running rugby.

Albion’s indiscretions were giving the ‘Regulating Branch’ plenty of ammo with which to penalise them.  It did seem that with such a large lead which in all likelihood would be increased.  Any 50 -50 shouts seemed to be going Moseley’s way, was this in order to make a game of it?  (If that was the case, it was very successful in the end!)  However Moseley realised that it would be futile to hope to close the gap with penalty goals.  They put a very long penalty kick into touch close to the 5 metre line and scored from the resultant line out.  Their kicker was now on form and had no problem making the conversion.  So that saw the last real exchanges of the first half.

For weeks there had been a buzz about the club and those spectators who were having their first experience of the new Albion style were amazed.  The team had produced one of the best attacking halves of rugby that Albion had produced over many years.   There clearly was a problem with their discipline which no doubt was a hot topic from ‘Captain’ Shanahan and his 1^st Lieutenant Rhys Oakley during the break.

When hostilities resumed nothing much had seemed to change.  Moseley drove down into the left hand corner with a penalty kick.  A ruck ensues and it appeared that the ref was playing advantage to Albion but play breaks up and Sam Matevasi is sent to the ‘brig’.  During his spell on the naughty stool Moseley score their second try although Dan did add Albion’s only points of the half with a penalty.  Shortly afterwards Gareth Evans appeared to be off to the sick-bay having received treatment on the half way line.  The gap was now down 14 points but that still seemed more than enough for Albion to gain a win.  The ref was finding virtually every offence in the book as far as Albion’s scrums were concerned, early push, crooked fed, wheeling the list just went on and on. 

In what appeared to be an attempt by Albion to repel boarders around the hour mark several substitutions were made.  These reinforcements failed to re-establish Albion’s earlier dominance.

Moseley added two more tries, both converted.  The final one was scored by their very elusive and fast left wing, Williams.  He had already shown the ability to skip away from tacklers in the first half.  His try was scored from deep he avoid one close tackle and after that his 70 metres plus run was a formality nobody on the Albion side had any chance of getting anywhere near him.  Fortunately in the final minutes of the match Moseley insisted in going to the right.  Albion managed to keep them at bay.  Why they did not attempt to get the ball out to Williams was most strange.

As has now been reported elsewhere too many Albion players tried to win the match themselves in the second half.  On a couple of occasions clear overlaps went un-used. 

It was a very exciting match to watch and as an Albion fan a lot of nervous energy was spent in those last few minutes.  Did the 5 day turn-around from the Sunday match at Sandy Park affect our players not only physically but also mentally?  When the game ended with Albion kicking a penalty kick, yes it wasn’t all one way, off the pitch all the Albion players seemed routed to the spot like motor boats on Stonehouse Creek when the tide is out.  It seemed an age before they could muster enough energy to troop off the field.

As was promised during the close season we will experience high scoring matches and close matches, this one was just too close.  However the clear style of attacking rugby should bring the crowds back to the Brickfields.

A Nomad

Match report Friday evening Albion .v. Moseley

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 23/09/2013 22:16

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
23/09/2013 22:16

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FZfT
24/09/2013 09:01

Good report. Only thing missing is The Black Pearl and Jack Sparrow.

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stonehousealbion
24/09/2013 09:30

Certainly was a rum evening...

Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!

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dragon27
24/09/2013 09:56

Good read, thanks.

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