MATCH REPORT: Plymouth Albion 36–21 Birmingham Moseley
Pre-Match
Plymouth Albion have had an excellent start to the season at Brickfields and, despite a disappointing result at Tonbridge last weekend, spirits were high ahead of what promised to be a big occasion on Saturday evening.
Speaking ahead of a rare game under the lights, Head Coach Ryan Lamb said:
“If we can get on top of them in the first 20–30 minutes and get the atmosphere building, then I’m sure it’ll be a good night for us.”
With the club hosting Birmingham Moseley for their Halloween fixture, the feeling around the ground was one of excitement and novelty. A packed-out crowd of 2,027 roared the team onto the pitch, providing a fitting backdrop for an entertaining 80 minutes of rugby.
Brickfields under floodlights was a night to remember.
Talland Bay Hotel cups were on show as Albion introduced a new partnership.
First Half
Albion got the scoring underway early on, when Oscar Stewart skipped past several Moseley defenders to cross after just two minutes. Frankie Dart’s conversion added the extras, and Albion settled into the match with a 7–0 lead.
A relatively quiet 20 minutes followed before Bobby Wigginton broke down the left wing to grab the hosts’ second try of the evening, showing great footwork to escape his marker and cut inside to make Dart’s conversion a simpler task.
Moseley began to grow into the game after that, with a spell of pressure around Albion’s 22-metre line. After a couple of excellent tackles, the visitors were awarded a penalty try, putting them on the board at 14–7 after the opening half hour.
Number 8 Ben Moa made a powerful carry before being forced into touch shortly before the break, and moments later Shea Cornish broke free to score Albion’s third try — his second in as many home games.
Moseley fly-half Tighe Maxwell-Whitley then stormed down the wing in front of the Eric Johns Stand to score, converting his own try to bring the Midlands side within seven points. The whistle blew on the first 40 minutes with Albion leading 21–14.
Second Half
Albion extended their advantage soon after the restart, when Frankie Dart added three points from a penalty. However, Moseley piled the pressure on soon after, scoring their second try of the evening through prop Ethan Priest, with Maxwell-Whitley’s conversion cutting the deficit to just three points.
Birmingham looked to capitalise on the momentum from Priest’s try, and Lamb’s men had to dig deep to hold onto their lead. The reward for their hard work came just after the hour mark, when Bobby Wigginton notched his second try of the game. More reliable kicking from Dart restored a 10-point cushion for Albion heading into the final stages.
There was still time for one final flurry from the home side. A high kick swept from left to right in the Saturday night wind, and while Dart leapt for the catch, the ball fell kindly to Shea Cornish, who wasted no time in bursting over the try line for his second of the match. Dart’s conversion attempt struck wide, and shortly after, a final scrum brought proceedings to a close.
Albion secured a bonus point victory, defeating Birmingham Moseley 36–21 under the floodlights at Brickfields.
Frankie Dart was in fine form in front of a season high crowd of 2027
Post-Match
Ben Moa collected another Nuffield Health Man of the Match award and paid tribute to long-time club sponsor Anne Prue, who sadly passed away earlier this week:
“She’s done so much for this club, on the field and off the field, and so much behind the scenes. We used that as the motivation to get us through it in the last 20 minutes.”
Up Next
Albion have a well-earned break next week before back-to-back away trips to Blackheath and Rams in November.
Brickfields will next be in action on Saturday 22 November, when Plymouth Albion host Rotherham Titans in a 3:00 PM kick-off.
🎟 Tickets are available now at plymouthalbion.com — book online to secure your seat early.
Joe Wilkinson
