By Flanker 7
September 28 2014

After a slow start to this season’s opening fixtures Albion had another opportunity to open their ‘W’ account by claiming a much overdue home victory and settling the early season nerves. Bedford Blues likewise had not made the start their supporters had expected and having lost their first three games, something had to give today. There appeared to be a healthy attendanceat the game which was confirmed as 1 392.

Bedford kicked off playing toward what used to be the North Terrace stand at the Brickfields. Albion managed to clear their lines, but in the blink of an eye, Blues were under the home posts. After good link up play, winger Dean Adamson sped in to give the start Mike Rayer would have demanded. 0 - 5 after 4 minutes; a successful conversion by one-time Albion favourite James Pritchard then made it 0 - 7.

This was not the start Albion anticipated and needed to respond quickly and take a foothold in the game. After a promising start the visitors conceded numerous penalties. On Albion’s first venture into the Blues 22 after a Lawrence Rayner kick to the corner, the catch and drive got early momentum and big Neal Patrick drove over to bring the score to 5 – 7. A brilliant conversion from out on the left by Rayner brought parity at 7 - 7.

Both sides were trying to gain the ascendancy in an error strewn-first half. A setback for Albion on 17 minutes was Eoghan Grace having to leave the field with another injury to be replaced by Tom Jubb. What still needs to be eradicated is the number of knock-ons by Albion. Just when you thought they had set a platform to throw the ball about, they would spoil it giving back cheap possession.

With Blues continuing to give away penalties, Rayner put Albion into a 10-7 lead, for what the vast majority of support in the ground thought was the basis to kick on and secure their first win of the season. But once Bedford got on the front foot, penalties were once again prominent with Albion being caught offside on several occasions. They were punished again by Pritchard, who has a habit of coming back to the Brickfields and consistently scoring against his former employers. Another penalty slotted; 10 - 10.

As we reached the half hour mark, Bedford started stamping their authority in the first half. As Albion were caught offside yet again, Blues kicked into Albion’s 22, and a pattern started to emerge that their confidence was growing. Following sustained Bedford pressure, Josh Davies was sin binned for what looked like foul play.
Jack Arnott went into the scrum half position, and from the resultant penalty Blues burst over after a good catch and drive. A call in the Albion ranks had gone completely wrong; as Patrick was coming out of the air, the Bedford drive was in total control to the home whitewash; 10 - 15. It hurts me to say the ever dependable Pritchard kicked superbly to further extend the Bedford lead to 10-17. It stayed that way until half time.

It was imperative Albion came out and made an early impression on this game as it now felt like another home loss was on the cards. Another successful Rayner penalty early on reduced the deficit to 13 - 17. After that, Albion were back to 15 again. There was then an influx of substitutions by both sides. However, Bedford’s penalty count was keeping Albion in the game as Rayner further narrowed the gap with a penalty in the Bedford half to take it to 16 - 17.

With Albion tails up, there was an expectation from the home support that a home win was again possible. But once more Bedford struck like a venomous snake - Adamson completing a brace of tries by going over in the corner. Pritchard was again successful with the conversion; 16 – 24. Albion then had a great chance to respond as Ben Woods made a line break, spreading the ball to Rayner, who made good ground with Lewis Warner on his shoulder. But the ball didn’t go out wide and the opportunity was spurned. However, on two occasions Bedford were penalised for not releasing which brought the score back to 19 - 24 initially; and a great kick from the halfway line made it 22 - 24.

Bedford are a side who know how to run down the clock. In their own minds, (after a scrum had been re-set on four times) they were trying to make ground for one last attempt at securing a bonus point win. On one occasion, I thought Albion had turned the ball over, but referee Tempest gave Blues another opportunity and after spreading the ball across the line Pat Tapley went over in the corner; 22 – 29. Every Albion fan must have held their breath as Pritch took the final kick of the game. Guess what - successful yet again, denying Albion even a losing bonus point. Final score, 22 - 31.

This losing run needs to be repelled and confidence found going into another tough fixture - away next Sunday at London Scottish.

Match Report: PARFC 22 - 31 Bedford (C'ship)

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 28/09/2014 11:35

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
28/09/2014 11:35

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