The first try of 2013/14

By HitR
September 16 2013

Albion Come Good to Take the Win Only three times, in their freshman year, did Jersey concede more than 40 points and non of those to now Premiership side Newcastle,  So, they’re a tough nut to crack.  But once Shanahan’s men had got the notion into their heads that they really did deserve to be playing in front of Sky’s cameras at Exeter’s Sandy Park, Jersey cracked

It took a while: the first half was a scrappy affair. Shanahan, interviewed after the game, had a rather more pungent expression to describe the first 40 minutes.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Albion were first on the board after 2 minutes with a penalty after Jersey had transgressed at the breakdown. 2 minutes later Penberthy evened things up for Jersey with a penalty of his own.  6 minutes later, from a catch and drive 5 metres out, Jersey’s forwards rumbled over for the first try of the match in the corner.  3-8 to Jersey.  Penberthy was denied his conversion when the ball fell off the T, was charged at by Albion, and his rushed drop attempt failed.

On 11 minutes Bowen raced after a cheeky little kick through by Elder and was just beaten to the ball by a Jersey back for a 22 yard drop out.   On 14 mins, not to be outdone by the Jersey pack,  Albion got a driving maul of their own going only to see it brought down illegally by Jersey. Penalty Albion.  Instead of going for the posts, Albion opted to kick for touch and from 5m out Ien Ashcroft Leigh, sporting what can only be described as an experimental haircut, was forced over the line by his fellow forwards.  There were a tense few minutes while the 4^th official reviewed the touch down, but to Albion’s relief, it was given.  The metronomic Mugford added the extras.  10-8.

Thereafter, the rest of the first half was not a thing of beauty.  On 23 mins, two missed tackles allowed Jersey’s Ed Dawson, after  good work by Fred Silcock, to sneak in the left corner and run under the posts. Penberthy added the extras. 10-15. The first scrum of the day arrived 25m in and Jersey were awarded a free-kick. Then a  spate of aerial ping-pong, probably as a result of newly arrived rain, led to a penalty for Albion which Mugford duly converted. 13-15. On 34 mins, with Jersey pressing the Albion line, Nonu appeared to knock on deliberately. The referee goes upstairs for another look and, at the same time studies the replays with his assistant. The pictures prove inconclusive, but Jersey are awarded a penalty. Nonu survives. Relief for the Albion supporters all round the ground. A cry of Albi! Albi! Albi! goes up and the cry is answered by Albion who repel the driving maul following a 5m lineout for Jersey. Albion nearly went up the other end and scored: Warner made a great break and found himself racing for the line, he found SMS on his left but he was hauled down inches from the line. Albion, recycling the ball well, led to Dave Morton bursting through under the posts to touch down only to be called back for crossing.

HT Albion 13-15 Jersey.

Pictures on the big screen during HT had Shanahan, in the Albion dressing room, laying down the law.  Whatever he said during that time had no effect whatsoever for the first 10 minutes of the second half.  Jersey stretched their lead. Firstly with a penalty on 44 minutes and another on 52 minutes. 13-21. It looked as though Jersey might just stretch away.  Nothing was going particularly well for Albion: handling was rushed and knock-on’s were becoming the order of the day. The fluidity which Albion had displayed in pre-season seemed to have deserted them.  Shanahan made a raft of changes: Langley replaced Ashcroft-Leigh on 46 mins, Ruari Cushion for Paul Rowley on 50 mins, quickly followed by Heath Stevens for Nonu. Then on 54 minutes a double substitution of  Gareth Evans and Ben Rogers  for Morton and McGregor.

Then it all changed.

On 55 mins, A brilliant scything run, 60m through the heart of the Jersey defence led to a wonderful individual try by Tom Bowen. This was reliably converted by Mugford and it was 20-21.  The mood had changed, the team had a spring in their step, the Albion supporters roared and Matavesi replaced SMS.  This was the try that had Albion believing they were there on merit. 2 mins later, brilliant work by the backs led to Bowen delaying his pass just enough to draw his man and put Elder away under the posts. Another 2 points added by Mugford and Albion were ahead. 27-21.

Albion still had some work to do. Scrums were not going well and when Jersey had kicked straight out from the restart, Albion were penalised at the scrum and Jersey kicked to touch 20m out. Another scrum15 m out from the Albion line led to Jersey’s Tom Brown bursting through. A great tackle by Toby HB brought him down short but Albion eventually conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Penberthy added the 3 points. 27-24. Mugford committed his only faux pas of the day by kicking the ball straight out from the re-start. Penberthy opted to go for the posts from half way. He made the 3 points look ridiculously easy. 27-27.

In the meantime, Shanners had come on for Warner on 66 mins and the orders flowed. Despite giving away those two penalties, Albion looked to run the ball at their opposition who appeared to be tiring: Heath Stevens made a great break into the red zone and Albion, now more aggressive at the breakdown, recycled the ball speedily from right to left, feeding  Langley who burst through the Jersey line to go over for his first try for Albion on his debut.  Dan Mugford, who was to miss nothing all day, added the extras. 34-27 and a bonus point for four tries!

10 minutes to go. Could Albion hang on? Could they score more? Tremendous back play led to an Albion penalty in front of the posts. Inexplicably, instead of going for an easy 3 points, which would have taken Albion more than a converted try away from Jersey, a quick tap ensued which resulted in a failed drop kick attempt by Mugford.  The Albion faithful were perplexed. Could we have thrown away the win?  Small margins: a forward pass by Toby HB trying to put Elderaway down the

line, led to a scrum and the inevitable resultant penalty to Jersey and kick to touch.  Perhaps the Albion players were more confident than the supporters who had visions of a dramatic come back by Jersey and we could see what Jersey were about: kick to touch, as close to the 5m line as possible and rumble over.  We’re into the 82^nd minute and the Albion faithful’s nerves were not helped by a yellow card to Langley for a dangerous tackle. Penalty to Jersey and they kick to touch 15m out. Thank god for small mercies. Jersey are penalised for crossing in the lineout and Mugford wallops it down the line for touch.

86 mins. But it’s not over yet. Albion make a mess of the lineout and knock the ball on. Much scrambling by both sides from left to right across the pitch results in Shanahan finding Elder with a delightfully weighted ball who races down the line to put the game beyond doubt. A breakaway try, brilliantly executed.  FT 41-27

Albion 5pts Jersey 0pts

So, what do we know? Well, we have a set of backs to match any in the Championship.  Our forwards learn as the game progresses and can deal with a rolling maul. The scrum needs a bit of work but the lineout is unrecognisable from last year when it seemed to be a bit of a lottery at best.  If this side plays with confidence it will be very difficult to beat.  Shanahan instils confidence, structure and team spirit.  This will be an exciting season. For God’s sake don’t miss it!

We sit 3^rd in the table behind London Scottish and Rotherham with a maximum 5pts and a points difference of +14.  Long may it continue.

The lads have only 5 days to turn around as next week it’s a 7:45 Friday evening fixture against Moseley. A tough side to beat at the best of times. 

Go well.

HitR

Albion - Jersey match report from Sandy Park, the 23rd. game

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 16/09/2013 08:59

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
16/09/2013 08:59

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noibla
16/09/2013 09:06

Many thanks to Richard. aka HitR (Hands in the Ruck) for his excellent report of the game.

I am hoping to persuade him to cover a few more away games for us as he's not a local lad, thanks again and take care.

Tim.

Semper Sersum.

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lobina
16/09/2013 12:15

A good report and well summed up.

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Flanker7
16/09/2013 12:54

Crucial stage of the game was when Shanners made the changes not just influential,however, having huge impact in changing the result.

Jersey will be a tough nut to crack for a lot of sides in the Championship, they contributed to a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby.

Eagerly awaiting Friday evening, as I'm sure preparation for Moseley will need to be spot-on as in past games Albion have somewhat struggled against them.

Huge boost to all the Albion squad, just play as you did after 50mins and the lost Albion support will come flooding back through the Brickfields turnstiles.

May the good form continue, and everyone will be in for a great season.

Come on Albion!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:16:15:55:02 by Flanker7.

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King Albion
16/09/2013 17:54

Great report HitR. Like the time lines and comments!

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