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PLYMOUTH ALBON RFC  39  v  DMPRFC  3

PLYMOUTH ALBON RFC 39 v DMPRFC 3

Kevin Robinson16 Oct 2016 - 11:15
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Heavy defeat away from home for DMPRFC, but it could have been a lot worse as DMPRFC struggle with injuries.

It would be easy to write-off the game as just a very bad day at the office, but more of an explanation is required for a team performance that was the worst so far this season.

The 'it could have been worse' comment relates to the fact that only two players were injured, the Plymouth Albion RFC total included 2 'interception' tries and the poor DMPRFC display was probably the worst for a very long time and probably should have been more from the home side, but some credit to the visitors, DMPRFC did defend well at times.

Not that it looks that way from the score, but at times, DMPRFC show show some enterprise, with debutant back row Jack JONES and colleague Joe CRAGGS always prevalent in knocking the opposition back, with some good carries from the former.

The scrum from both sides was a mess, inconsistently policed by an official who was poorly assisted by two assistants.

Amazingly, as the referee went through his plethora of offences for which penalties or free kicks were awarded, DMPRFC again fell foul of the 'crooked feed' into the scrum, which is fast becomong a 'joke offence'. Considering that every feed into the scrum by both sides during the whole of the game was the same, 'crooked' and would be being repeated throughout every game in the country, 'what's the point'.

Add that to the fact that the 20 players who took the field are probably the only 20 fit sqaud members in the club at the moment and the trip to the other side of the world, then it was always going to be difficult.

So now to the report (excuses well and truly extinguished), the bottom line is that Plymouth Albion RFC certainly were the best side on the day, fully deserving of their 5 tries and 5 league points.

The 2 previous games between the clubs last season were very close, but this game took Albion miles further ahead in the bragging rights statistics.

Experienced fly half Kieran Hallett ran the show for Albion, kicking accurately out of hand and thorough in preparation for his many positive kicking contributions from the tee.

A big, robust pack gained plently of possession from the set piece, dominating the lineout and more than competitive at scrum time, with some sold citizens at the coalface and their 'round the corner' attack from the contact area always looked dangerous.

Penalties littered the first half, the vast majority awarded to the home side, some of which were confusing.

Hallett opened up with a couple within the first quarter, as Albion dominated the first quarter of the first half (6 - 0). The first try came courtesy of home flanker Dan Williams, who profited from a series of pick and drives by his pack colleagues, latching on to drive over and score (11 - 0), Hallett converting (13 - 0).

At this stage, returning Kiwi winger Will MURRAY was forced to withdraw through injury for the visitors allowing abrasive replacement centre James FITZPATRICK into the fray.

Additionally, Chris AULD soldiered on after an unpunished no arm tackle, but the offender was punished later in the game with a yellow card, after a series of big, but questionable hits..

Unfortunately later Chris AULD did succumb , allowing Adam RADWAN a debut

Albion did fade a little towards the latter of the first half, allowing periods of possession to the visitors, however they were unable to capitalise.

Considering Albion's dominance of possession, DMPRFC defended well and could have added a try themselves, when the home side persistentlty offended in and around the 5-yard area, so much so that centre Joe Simmonds received a yellow card for his illegal contributions.

As oranges approached, DMPRFC could not penetrate the home defence and had to settle for a Caolan RYAN penalty (13 - 3) as the whislte blew for the trek to the dressing room.

So, still in it at half time, despite minimum possession.

With numerical advantage for the first 8 minutes of the second half, DMPRFC were unable to capitalise and in a 13 minute burst, Albion commendably scored 4 tries.

The first from poor defence from the visitors, allowing solid centre Setareki Raumakita to burst through for the score (18 - 3), converted by the confident Hallett (20 - 3).

A catch and drive from the persistence of the home forwards brought the next try, when hooker Rupert Freestone held on to the back of the maul and was shunted over (25 - 3). Hallett aghain converting (27 - 3).

Then came the two 'interceptions', which were the icing on the cake for Albion.

In a rare DMPRFC attack, full back turned fly half Josh BRAGMAN, who had moved forward after the withdrawl from the game of Caolan RYAN. In his haste to force the ball, flipped it into the hands of home hooker, who raced the 70+ metres to the visitors line for the score (32 - 3). Again Hallett was on hand to add the conversion (34 - 3).

As it was fast coming a really 'bad day at the office', DMPRFC No. 8 Rory DUFF, who until then had been at the heart of everything good from the visitors, uncharacteristically lost possession in midfield, allowing Hallett to orchestrate the final try, putting in winger Matt Crosscombe for the final points of the day (39 - 3), as Hallett, for once, was unable to add the extras.

The long journed North gave DMPRFC the opportunity to lick their wounds and contemplate next Saturdays trip to Loughborough Students, where hopefully with the return of several players from injury, a better performance is envisaged.

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