Two out of three aren't bad

Albion 19 Pirates 9

Albion seem determined to end the season well as they hold Pirates at Brickfields while controlling the game and defend their try line well. This gives Albion the double over Pirates although they did take the route to Twickenham two weeks ago at Camborne.

Danny Thomas misses his second match this season although he holds the club record for League appearances at 174! He was seen however, taking an active part in the coaching duties on the sidelines.

Tom Arscott is back to try scoring and ways although he omit his dive as he scores behind the posts. Nic Sestaret extends his records to include the all time most tries for a player in National League One as he pops number 27 off the back of a maul.

With only a few minutes on the clock Albion were busy showing Pirates that they meant business when Regardt tapped the ball over the defence but was just short  of the ball as Pirates grounded the ball for a 22 drop out.

The first score came just 10 minutes into the match after a serious of rucks and mauls down the right hand side Ed Lewsey took the ball to within feet of the line and a ruck formed. As the ball was recycled into a maul making another attack on the line Nic Sestaret broke through the centre of the maul to touch down his 27 league try of the season. The extras were added by Regardt van Eyk.

When Chris Lowrie was turned totally upside down at a breakdown Albion were awarded a penalty on Pirates 10 metre line in front of the posts Regardt missed to the right. Chris simply got up and got on with the play and the ref had stern words with Pirates captain and offending player.

When Pirates were given the opportunity 15 metres out and to the right of the posts they made no mistake.

25 minutes in Nic Sestaret looked as though he was in for his second after a long pass was received by Nat Saumi just in the Pirates half before passing out to Nic who was tackled and dropped the ball forward for a Pirates scrum.

Tom Arscott left it until normal time had finished in the first half before he reopened his score book as he picked up the ball on the Pirates 10 metre line before running through the Pirates defence, out pacing and avoiding any tackles from at least three Pirate defenders.  Tom took the ball around and behind the posts to gentle place the bell on the ground. Regardt took the extras to bring the score to 14 - 3.

Captain Ben Gulliver was penalised, on the last play of the half, 15 metres out and to the left of the posts for not rolling away and Pirates fly half took the ball back to the 22 to improve the angle and slot 3 points. 14 - 6

Albion won the possession, territory and points battles of the first half but may well have lost the penalty count. With no changes to either side Pirates came out with what seemed like more determination attacking the Albion line but without any success. After no advantage was made by Pirates the ref brought them back to an offside decision which they converted to give them their only points of the have. 14 - 9

Albion had a number of chances in the second half to extend the lead but were unlucky not to get them.  Tom Arscott kicked ahead bouncing the ball into the in goal area but pirates just get there first. A driving maul that went over the line was pushed to the touch in goal.

An exciting half but no scores at either end for 40 minutes. The only Albion score of the half came in the very last play of the game after Pirates had been penalised three or four times in the right hand corned for offences at rucks and mauls. Keni Fisilau joined the 11 man maul before pealing off to put the ball down with Ed Lewsey on his shoulder.

Albion had won the first half 14 - 6 and the second half 5 - 3, they took away the 4 points for the match and leapfrog Pirates in the table to 4th place.

Te match saw a higher than normal number of penalties, which at the end of the day were probably evenly distributed. The referee had to talk to three players with their captain in attendance but not once did he go for a colourer card.

With just three matches left Albion need to secure 4th slot and look to make progress on Doncaster currently holding 3rd. Pirates now have to go away and fight to stay in 5th as both Bedford and Exeter are looking to overtake them.

Ed Lewsey was named Redrow's Man of the Match and the match was witnessed a record for Brickfields of 5981.

Don't forget to register your vote for man of the match!!

Team: Nat Saumi, Tom Arscott, Regardt van Eyk, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Tim Mathias, James Owen, Scott Zimmerman, Mike Lewis, Ben Gulliver, Tom Hayes, Brett Stroud, Chris Lowrie Replacements: Matt Newman, Sila Va'Enuku, Arran Cruickshanks, Dan Smith(used), Richard Oxley(used), Andy Williams, Gareth Evans

Scorers :- Tries Keni Fisilau Nic Sestaret Tom Arscott Conversions 2x Regardt van Eyk

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