After stirring into life in the last ten minutes of the game scoring 2 converted tries, DMPRFC left themselves far too much to do against an Old Albanians RFC team, who had fought hard to establish a commanding lead for the majority of the game.

Honours were even in the early stages of the game, in this eagerly anticipated clash of two teams very much in need of league points.

DMPRFC withstood a lot of pressure on their line, as the home side sought to establish superiority from the off.

Similarly, once withstood, DMPRFC attacked themselves and in the first quarter of the game, both teams' defences were tested and were not found wanting.

In the scrums, after initial parity, DMPRFC began to exert pressure on the home pack, however the home side edged the lineouts, as DMPRFC struggled to gain possession from this facet.

A difficult early penalty attempt by fly half Tom HODGSON was edged wide.

Just when DMPRFC thought they were containing any home side incursions, a long pass found the visitors wanting from an attacking scrum and a home lock broke the deadlock after 24 minutes (5 - 0).

The conversion was successful (7 - 0) and Old Albanians RFC took a deserved lead.

Five minutes later, DMPRFC were dealt a bitter blow, when recently returning lock Talite VAIOLETI retired, initially temporarily, but then permanently from the game with a calf injury, necessitating an early change, allowing young lock George HEDGLEY to enter the fray.

As the break for oranges loomed, it appeared as though a slender 7 - 0 lead was going to be the score at the interval, however, winger Jamie BARNARD took a pass after a searing break down the short side from full back Henry ROBINSON, outstripping the cover defence to score in the corner, to the delight of the visiting supporters who had made the long trek South (7 - 5).

Tom HODGSON slotted a difficult conversion from wide out (7 - 7) squaring up the scoreboard as the players left the field after a closely fought first half.

No other changes for DMPRFC as the players emerged for the second half and more of the same attrition was expected when proceedings resumed.

However, the game changed for the visitors with an horrendously telegraphed interception try (12 - 7), inspiring the home side and consigning DMPRFC to an extended period of home dominance, which effectively handed them this important game.

As the conversion was missed, a devastated DMPRFC failed to recover and focus, attracting a full response from the home side, who took advantage of the obvious lapse, scoring 2 converted tries and a penalty in a 20 minute period (29 - 7), with no response from the visitors, who appeared shell-shocked in the extreme.

With the introduction of replacement fly half Grant CONNON, there were signs of inventiveness and a recovery seemed to be on, as Old Albanians thought they had done enough and sat back.

Jamie BARNARD and Rob CONQUEST scored tries late on, both converted by Grant CONNON, but all was too little, too late, as the referee's whistle was soon to follow, with DMPRFC coming up short of an unlikely overhaul or any bonus points for that matter.

Many congratulations to Old Albanians RFC, who appeared to want it more on the day, consigning DMPRFC back into the relegation zone, with now half of the season completed.

(MATCH SQUAD TO FOLLOW)