Match report by Rob Kershaw / Photography by Brad Wallace
Plymouth Albion overcame a stern test from Birmingham Moseley to take five points at the Brickfields on Saturday afternoon.
The win takes them up to fifth in National League One, leapfrogging Bishop’s Stortford after their defeat at the hands of Esher.
Albion made a super start to the encounter, twice getting close to the try line on the left side, but a staunch Birmingham defence repelled the attacks.
The hosts got their breakthrough when a well-worked scrum set Jeremy To’a loose on the back line, and he muscled his way through to open the scoring. Phi Jones stepped up to convert.
Following a quiet spell, Albion were in again. George Mills’ offload to a free-as-a-bird Craig Duncan gave the fullback a run to the line, and Jones added the extras once more.
Birmingham eventually found their feet at the end of the first half, scoring two to get themselves back into the encounter. First Jacob Cusick on the right and then Daniel Lewis on the opposite flank went over.
Crucially, only one of the two scores was converted, giving the Ocean City’s finest a slender lead going into the break.
Greater breathing space was restored early after the restart when Jones was set away, and his lay-off to To’a saw the 13 score his second of the afternoon.
Moseley left oceans of space off to the right once more, and the fresh legs of Charlie Groves took full advantage, charging in to score the bonus-securing try.
However, the visitors were not out of the fight yet. Matthew Marsh reached over to keep the visitors in the game, but it would be Albion who had the final word.
George Mills wriggled over late on to take the score to 33-24, and despite a Dan Collier sin bin late on, Albion held on to claim five huge points at home.
Line-ups:
Albion:
Ramaz Rukhadze, Harry Wilkinson, Dan Pullinger, Jake Clemson, Dan Collier, Torin Clarke, Herbie Stupple, Morgan Stone, Phil Jones, Jon Dawe, Connor Eastgate, Jeremy To’a, Seta Raumakita, Craig Duncan
Replacements: Kye Beasley, Finn Richardson, Angus Hodges, Jack Oulton, Charlie Groves
Birmingham Moseley:
Sam Pointon, Aquile Smith, Elliott Creed, Rob Knox, Jacob Cusick, Dan Lewis, Matt Marsh, Ethan Priest, Sam McNulty, James Tideswell, Harry Barnes, Harry Butler, Ben Morris, Jack Forsythe, Ollie Stedman
Replacements: Josh Olver, Chris Romano, Max Ayling, Jack English, Freddie Painter,
