A second quarter purple patch during which they scored four tries, laid the foundation for Plymouth Albion RFC’s home win, with DMPRFC starting and finishing well enough to gain a four-try bonus point on the long trip to Brickfields.

Things could have been somewhat different if the 9th minute yellow carding of home lock Daniel SWAIN had been the justified red that his actions warranted. However, with only the referee’s assistant seeing the home player’s horrendous tip tackle which landed visiting flanker Simon UZOKWE on his head, it was his recommendation of the lower sanction to the match referee, who seemingly had not seen the incident.

DMPRFC had opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute, when fly half Warren SEALS slotted a penalty. (0 – 3)

This was followed up by the visitors exploiting the home defence, winger Ollie WALKER, in what was to be his best game of the season, scoring the try after a team break out from the half way line, (0 – 8) with SEALS adding the conversion. (0 – 10)

With very solid home form prior to the game, Plymouth set about redressing the initial lead of their visitors, with wing Jack ARNOTT scoring a good try wide out, (5 – 10), full back Matthew SHEPHERD adding the extras (7 – 10) with the first of his five conversions for the day.

Plymouth’s other winger got into the act with the next try after a further six minutes, when he engaged in a foot race with opposite number Ollie WALKER. It was WALKER who was certain he got the touchdown first, however the official had other ideas and awarded the try to Plymouth (12 – 10), SHEPHERD converting. (14 – 10)

A try by home fly half Fraser HONEY was the next offering from Plymouth who began to monopolise the game, with HONEY scoring near the posts (19 – 10), and although he didn’t need the advantage as he was 100% all day, SHEPHERD was grateful of the conversion kick near to the posts. (21 – 10)

A trademark catch and drive lineout resulted in Plymouth’s fourth and bonus point try, this time hooker Jamie SALTER the scorer (26 – 10) and with SHEPHERD in great form, the conversion was ‘nailed on’. (28 – 10)

So as oranges arrived, a decent start by the visitors had been wiped out and Plymouth were very much in the driving seat after 40-minutes of play.

Apart from the shocking tip tackle, the game had been played hard and fair, but in the latter stages of the second half, as both sides tired, a little bit of frustration crept into the game which resulted in 4 more yellow cards, 2 from each side.

It was DMPRFC first to register on resumption of play, centre Ben FRANKLAND breaking through a strong home defence to score, (28 – 15), SEALS converting. (28 – 17)

Home scrum half Cameron SETTER stretched the home side’s lead further when going over from the back of an attacking lineout (33 – 17), the sure-footed SHEPHERD making sure of the extras. (35 – 17)

The first yellow card of the game for DMPRFC was awarded at this stage to lock Joe CRAGGS, who’s arms were adjudged not to have been evident in a tackle, however, Plymouth failed to take advantage of the number reduction.

Once DMPRFC were restored to a full complement, a frantic 8-minutes of play followed, where 3 yellow cards were issued and another 3 tries were scored.

First DMPRFC flanker Simon UZOKWE scored a try, speeding in from a break out (35 – 22).

Next, Plymouth’s scrum dominance was rewarded with a penalty try after DMPRFC had infringed on their own try line (42 – 22), which caused an altercation between UZOKWE and Plymouth’s KELLY, the result being that they were both sent to ‘the cooler’.

Plymouth’s George MILLS followed them as DMPRFC pushed for a 4-try bonus point at the death, having impeded the visitor’s progress to the home try line.

Replacement hooker Jordan POOLE recorded the bonus point in the last minute after a strong series of pick and drives by the visitors (42 – 27) and with the conversion successful from SEALS (42 – 29), the official ended any further excitement with the final whistle.

PLYMOUTH ALBION RFC SQUAD
15. Matthew SHEPHERD (Daniel POWELL, 63), 14. Joshua SKELCEY, 13. Jonathan DAWE, 12. Dean SQUIRE, 11. Jack ANOTT (Francis KELLY, 72), 10. Fraser HONEY, 9. Cameron SETTER (Matthew SHEPHERD, 72), 1. William NORTON (KENNY, 62), 2. James SALTER (David McGREGOR, 60), 3. Daniel PULLINGER-HAM, 4. Lewis PEARSON (John KELLY, 49), 5. Daniel SWAIN (Lewis PEASON, 51, William NORTON, 76), 6. Sam DALY, 7. George MILLS, 8. Michael STUPPLE.

Replacements: All Used.
Yellow Card: SWAIN (9), KELLY (78), MILLS (80)
Red Card: None
Home Player of the Match – Matthew SHEPHERD

SCORING:
Try: ARNOTT (13), SKELCEY (19), HONEY (31), SALTER (35), SETTER (52)
Conversion: SHEPHERD (13, 19, 31, 36, 53)
Penalty: None
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: (77)

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Garry LAW (Simon UZOKWE, 65), 14. Oliver WALKER, 13. Benjamin FANKLAND, 12. Callum MACKENZIE, 11. Shaun McCARTNEY (Rian HAMILTON, 54), 10. Warren SEALS, 9. Matthew DUDMAN (Maia GIBBS, 64), 1. Alfie BARRON (Scott WESTWOOD, 60), 2. Jamied BLAMIRE (Jordan POOLE, 60), 3. Talite VAIOLETI, 4. Jacob BRADY, 5. Joseph CRAGGS, 6. Simon UZOKWE (David FISHER, 42), 7. Matthew HEATON, 8. Oliver HODGSON.

Replacements: All Used.
Yellow Card: CRAGGS (62), UZOKWE (78)
Red Card: None
Away Player of the Match: Ollie WALKER

SCORING:
Try: WALKER (10), FANKLAND (46), UZOKWE (75), POOLE (80)
Conversion: SEALS (10, 47, 80)
Penalty: SEALS (2)
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None

Referee: Mr Callum Howard
Referee’s Assistants: Mr Alan Bickle, M Grant Douglas Mossford
Attendance: 784

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