Match Report – Plymouth Albion 8 Rosslyn Park 37
Report by Paddy Marsh
Photography by David Cunningham
In their first competitive match for 536 days, Plymouth Albion with nine players making their debuts were well beaten by a Rosslyn Park side who are one of the favourites to win National 1. Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half Albion took an early lead and were very much in the game at half time trailing by only three points.
It was a different story in the second as Park dominated the game running in four more tries as well as keeping their hosts scoreless. Albion struggled to get out of their own half after halftime but to their credit, they defended well and it took Park until to 79th minute to secure the try-scoring bonus point. In his first competitive match in charge after being in the post for more than a year Albion Head coach Damian Welch was in a reflective mood after the match.
Welsh said, “ I thought we played well in the first half but the game got away from us after halftime. “When Park went down to 13 in the first half we would have liked to have scored more points. I was disappointed when we were weren’t awarded a penalty try. Welch added, “Rosslyn Park have a settled squad and they are a good team and they will be right up there come the end of the season.”
In front of a 2,000 plus crowd, Albion took an early lead when fly-half Tom Putt slotted a penalty from three metres inside his own half. Park gradually worked their way into the game and took the lead when full-back Henry Robinson cut through the defence for an unconverted try. Park fly-half Craig Holland stretched his side lead kicking two penalties before the visitors went down to 13. No 8 Hugo Ellis was yellow carded and he was quickly joined in the sin bin by flanker Harry Ledger. Albion pounced and scored their first try of the season when hooker Max Norey finished off a catch and drive. It was one-way traffic in the second half and Park’s replacement centre Brandon Jackson crossed with Holland adding the extras. It was Albion’s turn to go down to 13 when flanker Alex Sheridan and Norey were carded. Park immediately added a third try when flanker Arthur Ellis pounced on a loose ball with Holland again converting. Park went in search of the bonus point which was scored late on by the experienced lock Greg Gillanders who punished Albion for a loose line out. The icing on the cake came in stoppage time when Park scored the best try of the game when winger Ben Howard finished off a flowing counterattack.
Half time Plymouth Albion 8 Rosslyn Park 11 / Full time Plymouth Albion 8 Rosslyn Park 37
Plymouth Albion
Tries Norey 36
Pen Putt 6
Yellow cards Sheridan 55, Norey 56
Rosslyn Park
Tries Robinson 11, Jackson 52, A Ellis 62, Gillanders 79, Howard 80
Cons Holland 52, 62, 79
Pens Holland 16, 30
Yellow cards H Ellis 32, Ledger 33
Attendance 2,088
50/50 results – 1st prize £222 winning ticket number: 11884. 2nd prize £148 – winning ticket number: 12198
Plymouth Albion: Jones, Cornish, Nowell, To’a, Ducker, Putt, Clement, Southworth, Norry, McFarland, Collier, Sherriff, Clemson, Sheridan, Stupple capt replacements Salter, Williams, Goldsmirh, Mulberry, Rowson
Rosslyn Park: Robinson, Scott, Cheeseman, Jones, Howard’s, Holland, Gash, Traynor, Saunders, Hay, Laventure, Gillanders, Ledger, A Ellis, H Ellis replacements R Jackson, Dawe, Gray, Waters, B Jackson
Referee: Charlie Gaithersburg
Nadine Venables of Brunel presents the Albion ‘Old J Man of the Match’ to Shek Sherriff
Stunning halftime display from the Plymouth Cheerleaders!
