Report by Rob Kershaw
An electric second half performance by Plymouth Albion helped them beat Leeds Tykes 36-21 in their final away game of the season.
The start was not ideal for the Ocean City’s finest, with both Jack Oulton and Jon Dawe forced off through injury in the opening 10 minutes.
Some decent early possession for Tykes saw them threaten with an attacking scrum, but it was Albion who took the lead just under 20 minutes in when a good break by Morgan Stone sent Phil Jones in to give the visitors the lead.
Leeds were soon back level though when Tom Williams went over, Charlie Venables stepping up to convert and put his side ahead.
It did not take long after that for the hosts to take the lead when Harry Jukes made a subline run in from 45 metres out, and Venables made it two from two as his conversion bounced through off the post.
It remained a competitive encounter. Albion nearly got in to pull one back, but were penalised for not rolling away.
But the lock was eventually picked once more when Ramaz Rukhadze drove over from 10 metres out, with Jones converting to bring Ryan Lamb’s men back into the contest once more.
Eight minutes later, Rhys Williams drove over for Tykes, and another solid kick from Venables opened out another nine-point advantage.
The second half started steadily for both sides, and a line-out from five metres out for the away side came to nothing as Leeds earned a defensive scrum.
The away pressure eventually led to a try when captain Herbie Stupple went over, before the conversion was charged down by Venables.
A super second half turnaround was completed when Charlie Groves flew over despite appeals for a forward pass by the home support, and a successful conversion from Jones put Albion three points ahead.
Lamby’s side continued to control possession from there on in, forcing Leeds to defend hard inside their 22.
We streaked further ahead late on when Groves scored his second, before a successful conversion took us 10 points clear. Craig Duncan put the icing on the cake when he went over late on, securing victory on Albion’s final away trip of the season.
Albion will see off the term at home to Cambridge next Saturday afternoon.
Line-ups:
Leeds Tykes:
Alex Peasants, Sam Mace, Ben Watson, Chris Bell, John Okafor, Thomas Collins, Will Smith, Matt Burke, Ewan Laughton, Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley, Harry Jukes, Tom Williams, Ben Dixon, Jacob Mounsey, Charlie Venables
Replacements: Rhys Williams, Henry Derbyshire, Grayson Maguire, Jake Brady, Kit Keith
Albion:
Ramaz Rukhadze, Jamie Salter, Finn Richardson, Jake Clemson, Dan Collier, Angus Hodges, George Mills, Torin Clarke, Jack Oulton, Phil Jones, Jon Dawe, Connor Eastgate, Seta Raumakita, Charlie Groves, Craig Duncan
Replacements: Harry Wilkinson, Dan Pullinger, Herbie Stupple, Morgan Stone, Tom Davies
