Plymouth Albion 17
Coventry 6

Attendance: = 1482

On a pleasant afternoon Albion make their way through to the semi finals of the EDF Trophy. With Coventry taking the first 3 minutes and 15 minutes in the second half Albion dominated the match with both possession and territory.

With both Nigel Cane and Richard Oxley declared unfit the chance was given for Tom Arscott to start on the wing. Nigel has knee problems and Richard problems with his back.

Wihan Neethling had to wait late into the second half before he was given the chance to play on the wing as he came on for Tom Arscott.

With just a hint of a shower before the match the match was played mainly in bright sunshine.

Coventry started the game on a high spending the first three minutes attacking the Albion line.  When Cov dropped a pass in front of the Albion posts Federico was on had tapping the ball along the ground out of his own half and then a further kick before Coventry regained position.

!0 minutes in and the first points go to Albion and the boot of Regardt van Eyk after Cov were penalised for diving in at the ruck.

Ed Lewsey made an attack on the try line when he took the ball off the back of the Maul outside the 22 and made a dash for the corner. A great piece of back play that was not rewarded with any points.

Another piece of back play saw the ball on the right and in the hands of Tom Arscott passing to Mike Lewis before the play broke down. The ball was quickly released and played to the other wing where Nic Sestaret was on the end of the play touching down in the corner for the only try of the match. The try was left unconverted as Regardt's kick went to the right.

Just after the half hour Regardt had a chance for points 30 metres out and in front of the posts but was unsuccessful as the ball goes to the right again.

With no time added on at all the half finished with Albion in the lead, having most of the possession and territory but very little points to show for it. Going into the change around just 8 – 0 up but it could have been a lot more with the chances they had. Tom was playing well on the wing and could have had a hat trick if the luck had gone the other way.

After the halftime break Coventry restarted the match but the kick was sliced and only went forward one metre for a scrum back to Albion.

With only three minutes on the clock Regardt was handed another chance 3 metres out which he converted to bring the score to 11 - 0.  The same score that we had at half time in January in Coventry,  that day Cov came back to win the match and there was some concern that Albion did not let history repeat itself.

Just a minute later at the other end of the pitch Danny Thomas was penalised at the ruck and a penalty awarded against Albion.  After some comment heard by the referee he gave Coventry a further 10 metres to make the chances of points even better. 

With penalties going both ways and being kicked at goal rather than for touch the score goes to 17 - 6

With no bonus points being played for in a cup game  the second half saw several kicks at goal by Regardt that may have in a league match been kicked for the corner. But all that is needed in a cup match is a win and that is what we got

When penalties are only used to kick at goal it slows the game down for the supporters and makes it seem that there were more penalties than normal.  I don't think that there were any more penalties in this match it just seemed that way.

As one Coventry supporter said to me after the match the best team won, we never got into the match.

Ben Gulliver, ex of Coventry, was seen wearing his Plymouth shirt with pride as he was on water boy duties.  He even came and joined the alllbion red shirt photo shoot sneaking in at the back of the group. He is out running and hopes to be back to match fitness soon.  Whilst others have stood in for him well the extra weight he brings to the side will certainly be needed in some of the tougher matches that are left in the league.

Match Day Sponsors Novotel man of the match - Chris Lowrie presented by Iain France

You can have your vote on alllbion man of the match check out the side bar. Last weeks winner of alllbion man of the match was Tom Hayes.

Team: Nat Saumi, Tom Arscott, Regardt van Eyk, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Tim Mathias, James Owen, Scott Zimmerman, Mike Lewis, Tom Hayes, Federico Genoud, Danny Thomas, Chris Lowrie Replacements: Matt Newman(used), Wihan Neethling(used), Arran Cruickshanks(used), Gareth Evans, Graham Dawe, Ed King, Brett Stroud(used)

Scorers :- Tries Nic Sestaret Penalties 4xRegardt van Eyk

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