By Frank Stormont
April 21 2006

An enjoyable game when Warriors showed the Navy how to play the game and beat them by 30 points.  

Warriors did not have to travel far to their away match tonight.  They were just out of the back gate to the Rectory Ground to play the Royal Navy and although the navy did trouble the scorer once with a converted try they were never in any danger of worrying a strong Warriors team. Matias managed two tries but was unable to repeat Jonny Marlin's performance of last week when he scored his hat trick.

The game started off on an even footing and a penalty awarded in the 8th minute in front of the posts some 40 metres out and it looked like the Navy were going to take the lead but the ball went just left of the posts and touch judges looked twice before not awarding the points. Five minutes later and Mike Lewis was at the bottom of the pile when a driving maul went over the line under the posts for Nick Defty to convert. This lit the fire under the Navy and they spent the next 5 minutes on the Warrior's line before, on their 4th attempt, going over to score a converted try.

Darren Ritchie made a great run along the right wing before passing the ball out for the Navy to force player and ball into touch.  Brett Stroud then made his run down the left wing before he passed inside to Matias Albina for him to score his first of the game.  This time Nick was unable to convert.  The pair did a similar play but this time on the right for Matias' second.  This bought the half time score to 17 - 7.

Nick quickly added three points to the total from a penalty awarded for off-side.  Warriors had a number of plays that did not result in points being added to the score. A high kick with the wind was dropped by a Navy defender calling "mark" but our backs were unable to gather and score and a maul containing no less than 13 Warriors also failed to push the ball the ten metres to the line. And a long pass into the centre of the field was just too far in front of Jon Fabian for him to gather, had he done so it would have been an almost certain try.  Matias spent a worrying ten minutes off the pitch with a bloody nose after a slap on the face.

Darren Ritchie fell well on the ball ten metres out stopping an almost certain try for the Navy.  This seemed to turn the play again to Warriors  advantage and a penalty bought the first points for 20 minutes and the score to 23 -7.  Followed shortly by a play started by Nat Saumi in the centre of the pitch was finished under the posts by Chris Lowrie which added another 7 points.  Then as we entered stoppage time and after mass replacements Ben Sanji, hope spelling is right, scored a diving try in his first appearance in a Plymouth jersey. What a debut!

A fantastic match to watch an an opportunity for players to attempt to claim first team places for the remaindering two matches of the season.

Warriors play again next Tuesday against Launceston at 7pm at Brickfields

 

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