Unofficial MoTM!

By A Nomad/stonehousealbion
September 7 2015

What an excellent start to the new season! Albion (as described by one of our subscribers), are like a newly-promoted team. An apt description bearing in mind the level most of the players had previously experienced. The Director of Rugby has started his team building with an almost clean sheet, retaining only a handful of last season’s squad. There is a new board and there have been a number of ground alterations and improvements. Even the VPs are impressed with their new home in the VP Lounge (formerly the Doom Bar).

With a brisk breeze blowing down the pitch towards the club house, Albion chose to play with the wind at their backs - not the choice I would have made. In the first 10 minutes of most games, both teams are settling down and fail to capitalise on that advantage. However, it was a wise decision. In the initial quarter Albion took time to overcome their nerves of the ‘big occasion' and got used to playing together. 

The pack was under pressure in the early set pieces and the wind advantage enabled them to keep up with Richmond in the early exchanges. This was first evident when Richmond lost a prop to the sin bin. However on his return their earlier advantage did not recur. Although the visitors had crossed and converted, and Albion had also lost one to the bin, they were building their score on successful penalty kicks by Elliot Bale. Richmond kept their noses in front until Albion scored their first try - an excellent one, too with skipper Jake Murphy touching down. Bale then scored a superb try which he also converted. Albion were now well on top and their superior fitness was evident. The visitors had started well, but flagged towards the end of the first period. There was no shortage of talent among them, but they lacked the high energy levels and familiarity that had been honed over the summer at Brickfields. After 5 minutes of time added, Richmond got back into the game with a converted try in the corner and shortly afterwards the ref blew for the break. Albion 26 - 17 Richmond; a useful enough lead - but big enough to hold onto and achieve an opening day win?

In the second half it was turn of the Albion defence to be tested. Richmond had plenty of field position, but Albion defended consistently well - only conceding a penalty for offside in front of the posts. Under pressure for much of the time, they avoided the wrath of "sir" to boot. Herbie Stupple scored a try after charging down an attempted clearance. Lucky? Maybe, but that's when preparation meets opportunity. He deftly gathered the ball and scampered over to touch down - to the delight of the thousand or so crowd. And then followed by a rare thing in rugby - the ground resounded to a single player's name. (Though the cynics might hint that his was the only recognisable face on the field!) Conversion again courtesy of Bale, whose kicking percentage was then at 100%. Just a single penalty failure would blot his copybook come full time. Many of the home crowd faithful endured an agonising countdown to the final whistle. An almost audible sigh greeted the end of proceedings. While Dawsie was blooding youngsters with a full 80 (and the extras), we didn't appear to make full use of the new " five subs and up to ten interchanges" rule that prevails in Nat 1 (or at least they weren't announced...).

Despite mild disappointment that a fourth try did not materialise (we are frustratingly eighth in the league as every other winner got the BP), this was top drawer entertainment. The quality of play and "esprit de corps" shown by Albion was something we have not seen for a good while. A performance better than that remarkable win two seasons ago over London Welsh and at least as much of a morale-booster. It was a complete team performance against dogged opposition that put down a clear marker for the rest of the division. No-one could know for sure how we would fare against an established side at this level, but those doubts were emphatically swept away. Full credit to the team and the backroom staff for all the hard graft in the off-season. (And to Mrs D, who has been B&B-ing for itinerant prospects.)

So to you who were elsewhere, I can only quote Henry V speech prior to the Battle of Agincourt; “Those who lay abed in England…”. With games like this we should soon start to attract back missing supporters and re-establish our reputation as a credible rugby club.

(Photo: Darren Hands)

Match Report: PARFC 33 - 20 Richmond (Nat 1)

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 07/09/2015 19:22

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
07/09/2015 19:22

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noibla
07/09/2015 19:42

Nice one A Nomad, as ever, with a personnel slant to it. And an excellent picture of the day.

Semper Sersum.

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