Match Report: Plymouth Albion vs Clifton RFC
Saturday 13 September – Brickfields, 3:00pm KO
Plymouth Albion were in action Saturday afternoon, when they played their season opener at Brickfields, taking on newly promoted Clifton RFC in front of a packed stadium, all of whom were in good voice.
Having made short work of Leeds Tykes last weekend with a dominant away performance, Head Coach Ryan Lamb and his team were keen to build on that result and give the home fans something to cheer about.
As the game kicked off in bright sunshine, it proved to be perfect conditions for both players and fans. With the sun beating down, Clifton kicked things off and the game was underway.
First Half
Clifton immediately pushed for territory as both sides looked to gain composure and settle into the competition. Not much ground was made by either side in the opening minutes as both teams felt each other out, until the game hit the ten-minute mark and Albion piled on the pressure. Joel Broadhurst shook free, skipping two tackles before touching down for the home side’s first try of the game. Frankie Dart added the two-point conversion.
Frankie Dart has been impressive in the first two games
Albion pressed on once more as Clifton faltered. The strength of the forwards proved too much and they were rewarded with their second try, when Harry Wilkinson barrelled his way over in the corner. Dart, from the narrowest of angles, kicked a perfect two-point conversion.
After the restart, Clifton attempted to apply pressure, pushing Albion back towards their twenty-two. But Albion held firm. A superb kick from fly-half Harry Legg pinned Clifton back, and Albion turned the ball over before working it wide to Shea Cornish, who sprinted under the posts for their third try. Dart added the extras with ease.
With eighteen minutes left in the first half, Albion led 21–0 and looked in complete control. Clifton, however, fought back, camping inside Albion’s twenty-two for nearly ten minutes. The home defence held firm, and eventually Albion pushed them back. Moments before half time, Albion’s scrum was illegally impeded on the try line and the referee signalled for a penalty try.
The home side weren’t done yet. After the restart, Albion spread the play, finding Oscar Stewart on the wing just over halfway. Stewart produced a moment of brilliance, chipping an inch-perfect kick into the corner, outpacing his opposite number, and grounding the ball for his first try. Dart converted once again from the toughest of angles.
The half-time whistle blew with Albion firmly in command at 35–0.
Second Half
Clifton came out after the break with renewed vigour and were rewarded almost immediately. Two minutes into the half, Matt Smith mauled the ball over for their first try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score 35–5.
Neither side took control in the next phase, but Albion maintained territorial advantage. They made it count after a well-worked lineout led to a thunderous run from Ben Moa, followed quickly by Harry Wilkinson smashing over for his second try. Dart missed the conversion for the first time in the game, but Albion stretched the lead to 40–5.
Just minutes later, Stewart again made the difference, stealing possession and breaking downfield before offloading brilliantly to Frankie Dart, who scored Albion’s sixth try. Dart’s conversion attempt from a tight angle was unsuccessful.
With ten minutes to go, Albion were in complete control. Fly-half Harry Legg produced another inch-perfect kick into the corner, where Shea Cornish beat the Clifton defence to score. Dart’s conversion narrowly missed, leaving Albion ahead 50–5.
Harry Wilkinson over the line for Try number two
As storm clouds gathered, Albion delivered more for the crowd. Gabe Mead bulldozed his way over, taking three Clifton defenders with him, before Dart added the conversion. With just minutes left, Albion scored again as Morgan Stone, in his fiftieth appearance for the club, sprinted down the wing and released a perfect pass to Mead, who dived over for his second. Dart’s final kick struck the post, leaving the full-time score 62–5.
Reaction
Coach Ryan Lamb was impressed with his team’s performance:
“Obviously a really good result. To score sixty points at home on the first day is fantastic. I thought we were really good coming out of the blocks, not wanting it to be an arm wrestle in that first twenty or thirty minutes, but we were really clinical again. To be honest I think we could have had a few more points in the first half as the lineout didn’t function too well, but I think there are a lot of parts of our game that are functioning really well, so we have got to keep building on that.”
Oscar Stewart was named Player of the Match after his home debut and said:
“It feels really good, thank you. You can’t complain after a result like that, especially when it’s the first home game. We knew it was going to be a big game and we performed well.”
Speaking about playing in front of the Brickfields crowd, Stewart added:
“It’s a hell of a crowd down here and we played some running rugby, so I hope that everyone who has come down has enjoyed that.”
Oscar Stewart picked up the Nuffield Health Player of the Match
Looking Ahead
Next up for Albion is a trip to Hertfordshire to face Bishop’s Stortford. Looking ahead, Lamb commented:
“Bishops are a fully fledged National One team and they are very good at home with a good record down there and they pose different threats, so we’ll let the boys enjoy tonight, reset and come back in Monday. The boys are really looking forward to it and there’s a really good mood in the camp at the moment. It will get tougher week after week, so we don’t want to get too above our station, but it’s been a fantastic start to build on.”
🎟 Tickets for Albion’s upcoming home matches are available now at plymouthalbion.com. Book online in advance for the best prices and to secure your place at Brickfields.
Pablo Cheeks
