Mugged - again!

By A Nomad
December 8 2014

Following the performance away at Jersey last week, we were hoping that Albion’s recent record would continue its upward trend. However, a cross bar and a late yellow card cost them the spoils in this B&I Cup match.

Albion played the more rugby, but did not capitalise on their chances. The occasional error cost them possession. The most appalling mistake in the opening exchanges was made not by Albion, but by the Quins. Three men raced into Albion’s 22 with only one man to beat - but what should have been a try scoring pass was knocked on and Albion escaped.

Albion had a chance to open their account with what seemed a straight forward kick well within Declan Cusack’s normal range and about 20 yards in from touch.  Unfortunately this went just wide of the left hand post. His place kicking was not up to the standard of last week. Although he kicked a penalty a few minutes later, another attempt went wide and towards the end of the half he hit the cross bar and the ball rebounded into the field of play for the Quins to gather it.

As the game progressed it was clear to see the changes to the style of play that the coaches have made in recent weeks. There has been a bigger emphasis on the kick chase. Here Declan has been extremely good, his kicks went high enough to enable the chasers to put pressure on the defence or even to gather the ball. Such kicks enabled Albion to gain field advantage which frequently ended with them having line outs in the Quins half.

Albion scored an excellent winger’s try. Following an attempt by Quins to run the ball out of defence, they were turned over and Albion’s backs moved the ball out to Lewis Warner. With a feint to go inside the covering full back, he swerved to the outside and scored in the corner. 

Albion had an 8 point lead, but that was soon reduced. A penalty was conceded in front of the sticks, which was easily kicked by Lewis, the Quins’ fly half. (It was shortly after this that Declan hit the cross bar.) More Albion pressure saw them awarded a penalty; and rather than go for the 3 points they kicked to touch and had a line out deep down the right hand wing. The ball was secured and they began to go forward, but in attempting to run the ball a pass was intercepted by Lewis who ran almost the length of the pitch. He managed to out-pace the covering players but at least they forced him to touch down out wide. He was unable to covert his own try.

So at the start of the second half the score was tied at 8 apiece. Albion started brightly and gained excellent field position with Quins defenders drawn out of position. Rob Langley, out wide on Albion’s right, signalled to Declan for a cross kick which was duly dispatched - but the bounce eluded Rob. Good communication between the two players, though. 

Following that passage of play, Quins came more into the game and went into the lead for the first time when Albion were penalised, Lewis had a simple task to make the kick. Albion were soon back on level terms with another Cusack penalty.

Quins then spent a lengthy period in Albion’s half who defended well and eventually gained good field position following a penalty. They had a line out on the right wing on the 22 and secured possession. The backs moved the ball across to the left wing where Lewis Warner fed the ball to replacement full back Elliot Clements-Hill who touched down in the corner. So Albion were back in the lead. 

With just over 11 minutes left on the clock (the new score board has a game clock which gives a good idea of how much time is left) came a crucial decision by the referee. Lewis Warner in chasing a high ball, tackled the receiver which Mr Correll deemed to be dangerous; ie, a ‘tip tackle’ as the defender’s legs had gone over the horizontal. This was controversial as it did not seem as though Lewis had actually tipped the player. He remarked after the game that those close by (including Quins players) thought it a legal tackle. That is the problem with these tackles as referees have been given guidance on enforcing the correct punishment in such cases. Had Mr Correll deemed it a deliberate ‘tip tackle’ or one that was likely to cause injury it would have been a red card.

So Albion had to see out virtually the whole of the remaining time with one man short. Within minutes Quins were awarded a penalty and went for the corner. The line out was on Albion’s right wing 5 metres out. Quins secured the ball and the scrum half nipped around the front of the line and over the whitewash. He was even able to make some yards toward the posts before being forced to touch down.  Those extra yards made the resulting conversion that much easier. So Quins snatched the lead almost at the death. 

In the remaining few minutes Albion were awarded a penalty in the centre of the pitch and a few feet inside their own half. Clement-Hill came forward to take the penalty kick which would have restored Albion’s lead, but it was not to be. He had the distance, but the ball sailed to the left of the posts.

This was a game that we should have won. Centre Ben Woods had a good game and ran Declan close for man of the match. Compared to our performance in Llanelli the forwards have improved. We were not under the cosh in the scrums and lineout, with a couple of exceptions, which also enabled Albion to retain possession. There remains issues around rucks and mauls.  Quins on a number of occasions disrupted these, causing Albion problems. The catch and drive at lineouts on the oppositions’ 5 metre line has to be more effective.  Although defences have tightened up in this area, the attacking side really should score more often than not.

As said earlier, Albion’s tactics are evolving; we have to hope that they will be rewarded with the necessary wins in the coming matches.

Match Report: PARFC 16 - 18 Carmarthen Quins (B&I Cup)

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 08/12/2014 12:37

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
08/12/2014 12:37

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