Plymouth Albion 41-10 Rosslyn Park
50/50 1st – 52839 – 50/50 2nd – 53022
Plymouth Albion extended their win streak to eight games after an incredible performance to defeat Rosslyn Park 41-10 in tempestuous conditions at Brickfields. After horrendous weather throughout the morning and early afternoon, the rain finally ceased just in time for kick-off, but still leaving the players to contend with slippery conditions throughout the contest.
1st half
Despite the difficult playing conditions, the 2,086 packed in the stands were treated with a plethora of expansive and exciting rugby, which began almost immediately. Albion’s first lineout of the game found its jumper, scrum-half Jack Oulton produced a clinical pass that found the hands of Iwan Jenkins, who bounced off a defender and darted under the posts for the first points of the game. Jenkins slotted the extras from in front of the uprights to give Plymouth an early advantage.
Off the ensuing passage, a healthy game of kick tennis commenced, with Plymouth putting an end to the fun with a monstrous kick that found touch close to Rosslyn’s try line. A mistake at the lineout gave possession back to Albion, who came close to adding another try before a knock-on halted the attack, but possession was retained due to a penalty advantage. They opted for the posts, with Jenkins successfully extending Albions advantage to make it 10-0.
Soon after, Rosslyn Park found themselves down to 14 men, as Plymouth’s Frankie Dart found himself with space to explore down the wing, before his offload was deemed to have been intentionally knocked-on. Albion were unable to take advantage of the extra man during this period, as Rosslyn entered the Plymouth 22 for the first time in the game after 16 minutes. Poor discipline allowed Rosslyn’s fly-half Bill Johnston to take a shot at goal from a penalty, finally getting the away side on the scoreboard.
The first half continued as an arm wrestle for territory, with 25 kicks from open play in the opening 40 minutes. Despite the adverse weather, both teams found success from lineouts, with Plymouth’s Louie Gulley hitting his man with 100% accuracybefore the break. Rosslyn lost another player to the sin bin for an intentional knock-on, as neither team was able to find the final pass to alter the scoreboard. From only the 2nd scrum of the half, Albion’s forwards produced an almighty heave, and in doing so won a penalty in front of the posts. Iwan Jenkins once again produced to take Plymouth Albion into the break with a 13-3 advantage.
2nd Half
As the second half commenced, a technical glitch plunged the scoreboard into darkness, leaving the fans to speculate on the narrow margins of the match. However, any anxiety in the stands was quickly quelled by a commanding second-half performance from the home side.
Seven minutes into the second half, Plymouth forwards powered over from close range from a lineout, with hooker Louie Gulley at the bottom of the pile. 10 minutes later Frankie Dart dotted down Albion’s third try of the game, after substitute Harry Wilkinson’s first lineout found its man, the ball was spun out to crash carriers in the midfield. When the attack seemed as though it was losing its momentum, Iwan Jenkins received the ball out the back of a pod of forwards and threw a mammoth miss pass out wide to Frankie Dart, who scurried over in the corner for Plymouth’s bonus point try. To the surprise of no one, Jenkins slotted the conversion from the touchline to extend Albion’s lead to 24 points.
An error from Rosslyn’s lineout prompted a scrum in good field position for the home side, as Plymouth capitalised on a prolonged period of instability from the opposition, winning their fourth scrum penalty from the fifth scrum of the match. The kick to the corner put Albion in the best possible position to convert, as Harry Wilkinson led the rumbling maul up to the line, with infringement Rosslyn Park’s only form of defence, resulting in a penalty try, and the visitors third yellow card of the contest.
Rosslyn managed to score a try of their own not long after, with an error from kick-off giving the away side a scrum. Albion attempted to pile on the pressure, but Rosslyn’s Charlie Mulchrone was just able to scramble the ball away to his backline. A grubber through found the safe hands of Rosslyn’s top try scorer this season Luke Mehson, who dotted down for his 16th score of the campaign. Bill Johnston slotted an impressive conversion from the sideline to take his team to double figures.
Player of the match was awarded to loosehead prop Jenson Boughton, who capped his game off with a sublime interception, which he almost took all the way. The ball was recycled, which allowed Louie Gulley to crash over for Albion’s fifth and final try of the match. Iwan Jenkins once again added the extras, leaving him 6/6 off the tee on the day, and resulting in a full-time score of Plymouth Albion 41 – 10 Rosslyn Park.
Man on the match – Jenson Boughton
Looking Forward
Plymouth Albion travel to Bristol to play Dings Crusaders next week, looking to extend their lead at the top of the National League 1, and further extend their impressive winning run.
Will Porter
