Albion 14 Doncaster 13

By Frank Stormont
September 17 2006
A tight and controlled game that ended in just one point between the teams and allowing Albion to remain in 2nd Place in the league.

Formatted Team List

Albion 14 Doncaster 13

Martin Rice

Richard Oxley

Scott Zimmerman

Colin Stewart

Ben Gulliver

Brett Stroud

Danny Thomas

Tom Hayes

Nigel Cane

Ed Barnes

Nic Sestaret

Keni Fisilau

Regardt Van Eyk

Ed Lewsey

Wihan Neethling

David Delaney

Nat Saumi

Arran Cruickshanks

Tim Mathias

James Owen

Federico Genoud

Chris Lowrie

Bench

Albion lasted 240 minutes of the new season before conceding a try in the seventh minute of injury time against Doncaster. A very tight match with both sides making attempts to cross the line with driving mauls with no success during normal time.

The first half had few stoppages for penalties although the tally did increase after the turn around, plus a sin binning for persistent infringements by the Doncaster hooker.

Doncaster took the lead in the 11th minute from a penalty after they were unable to take advantage with a driving maul. Three minutes later Wihan Neethling had a tough opportunity to bring scores back level but the ball went to the right of the posts.

The scores were levelled just before the half hour with a Wihan penalty. When Ed Barnes was caught with nowhere to go just outside Doncaster's 22 he attempted a drop goal but was unsuccessful. With 6 minutes of extra time played the teams went in all square three a piece.

If the score were to have stayed at 3 a piece then neither side would have been happy. No one had dominated the game and did not produce much exciting rugby for the spectator. A tight tactical half that towards the end became more physical but it never boiled over. It would have been interesting to hear what was said in the changing rooms as part of the half time motivational talk.

Regardt van Eyk took the restart but with the ball going straight into touch there was a scrum back on the centre spot. On 10 minutes when Doncaster drove the maul over the try line Albion managed to push the maul into touch which resulted in a 22 drop out.

On the hour Chris Lowrie came on for Tom Hayes and just after Doncaster scored a penalty. David Delaney came on for Regardt van Eyk with David taking up the fly half position and Ed and Keni moving one place out to make room.

Two penalty opportunities were taken by Wihan to put Albion in the lead for the first time in the match. The second of these penalties was after Doncaster's hooker was sin binned for playing the ball on the ground.

Federico Genoud was ready to come on with his training shirt off but after the ref blow up for the sin bin offence decisions changed and Federico never made it on the pitch.

Whilst the clock had moved in to extra time and with the referee signalling advantage to Albion a kick forward by Ed Barnes was followed up by new signing David Delaney for him to score on the right to much rejoicing by the rest of the Albion team. The try was unconverted and bought the score to 14 points to 6 and it looked as though Doncaster were going home without even a bonus point.

Doncaster seemed determined to not go away empty handed and camped just short of the try line for what seemed like an age. Eventually to the amazement of the Albion forwards a try was awarded and with the conversion brought the final score to 14 - 13.

Whilst Albion had been behind twice it never felt that they were going to be on the losing side.

Next week Albion travel to Otley, the only away match with no Travel club coach. To stay in the top two or even go back to top position they will need to put on a good show.

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