Revenge is sweet!

By A Nomad
February 1 2016

What a nice headline to this report! Albion are now a well integrated team. No matter what last minutes changes are forced upon them, their performance in games appears seamless. At the half way stage of the season, the players were aiming to be in the top four of Nat 1. That is no longer the case - they are focused on a run at promotion! They are certainly playing like promotion contenders. Richmond do have a large cushion - but with a third of the season to go, anything could happen.

The pitch at Esher was in good condition in spite of a large puddle between the dead ball line and the club house. It was a little soft under foot, but the scrums had sufficient grip to make them a good contest. The weather was almost cloudless with a breeze diagonally across the pitch. Esher won the toss and elected to play with their backs to the club house. Albion were facing the setting sun and into the breeze. Esher’s early tactics were to use the wind and cause Albion backs discomfort by putting the up into the air. Esher still displayed the running game that had been evident in our earlier meeting at home. The first real attack was mounted by them, but Albion defended well and cleared their lines. The first score was through a penalty conceded just inside the Esher 10 metre line kicked by Matt Shepherd. Albion then conceded a penalty in a kickable position enabling Esher to equalise; Esher 3 - 3 PARFC. 

Although play was reasonably even ,Albion looked the more likely to score such was their kick and chase game and their enthusiasm to put Esher under pressure. The first try came about in what is becoming an Albion trait. We had a scrum on our right hand touch line and just into Esher’s half. Herbie Stupple picked the ball up and made an excellent break up the touch line eventually feeding Nile Dacres who was unable to go over. Albion re-cycled and passed across the pitch for Matt Shepherd to cross out on the left. He was able to ground the ball nearer the posts making his conversion kick a formality; Esher 3 - 10 PARFC.

Esher then had a good attack and created a gap for their elusive winger to score - again in a position to make the conversion a formality; Esher 10 - 10 PARFC. Clearly Albion were in a contest (which had been anticipated before we left Plymouth), but although the scores were level Albion were still impressing friend and foe alike. Just before half-time, they were awarded a scrum, again on their right close to the touch line but only a matter of metres from the Esher line. Albion had the upper hand in the scrums and so it was in this case. Albion were winning the ball when the referee blew for a penalty against the home side, but then hand-bags came from nowhere. Sir restored order and after speaking to his assistant issued a yellow card to Esher’s scrum half. (I don’t know if this was for the initial penalty or what happened afterwards.) The upshot was that Albion elected for another scrum and Herbie made use of the missing scrum half to go around the blind side and score in the corner. Matt was missed the conversion attempt; Esher 10 - 15 PARFC at HT.

At the start of the second half, Albion’s forwards took the ball deep into the Esher 22 and it looked like Ed Holmes would to score under the posts - but he was stopped short. However the support players caused Esher to touch down and concede a 5 metre scrum. The Esher pack were under intense pressure and then conceded two penalties in quick succession. They were spoken to by the referee, so a penalty try looked on the cards. But Nile Dacres saved him the effort by forcing his way over the line. Again, Matt was unable to convert; Esher 10 - 20 PARFC.

Albion were now on top, having territory and possession. Their fourth try was not long in coming. They gained possession deep in their half and with forwards and backs combining, Matt Shepherd was put in the clear to score his second and more importantly Albion’s bonus point try. The passing was faultless and this try typified the 15 man rugby the team are playing. No matter what needs to be done the nearest players go after the ball irrespective of the number on their back - it was a great team try. Once again, Matt was able to make the conversion; Esher 10 - 27 PARFC.

Albion had the upper hand, but perhaps they relaxed too much because of the bonus point try and Esher were able to make inroads into Albion’s half. They defended well, but Sam Matavesi failed to retreat 10 metres following an Esher penalty and was yellow carded. Despite the numerical advantage, Esher were unable to score during his 10 minute ‘rest’.  They did have another unsuccessful kick during this period; all they needed was to build a big cushion to prevent any likely comeback by Esher.  Albion did come close with a good break by skipper Jake Murphy. Not long after Sam’s return, Esher were able to create another gap for their speedy winger (not the one on "Take Me Out") to score a try on their left wing, but the again the conversion failed; Esher 15 - 27 PARFC.

So after all this toil and effort, were Albion going to let things slip?  No, the try certainly made them realise the game's not won until the referee blows ‘no side.’ They spent much of the remaining minutes putting Esher under pressure and eventually they won another penalty which Matt kicked - thereby putting the game and any consolation league points beyond the reach of the hosts; Esher 15 - 30 PARFC.

The last few minutes were played out without further alarms. An Esher fan who had been at our match at the Brickfields commented, “The improvement in your team since then is most impressive.”  Even Esher chairman John Inverdale felt he could bask in the win, having been born in Plymouth. He did advise us that the Rugby Paper’s reporter at the game thought the man of the match was Herbie Stupple.

Match Report: Esher 15 - 30 PARFC (Nat 1)

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 01/02/2016 23:59

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
01/02/2016 23:59

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noibla
02/02/2016 15:59

Thanks Nomad, nice read.

Semper Sersum.

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balion
02/02/2016 16:04

Great report 'nomad' exactly as it happened. Couldn't agree I think once again was M.O.M.

sorry no smilies I seem unable to get them any more, I am just left with a load of coloured squares, any one have any ideas?

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North End Rambler
02/02/2016 20:23

Dear Mr Balion

Please do not worry about your problem with the 'smileys'. Just put all your coloured squares in a sealed envelope marked 'banknotes'. Pass the envelope to me when we meet again and I will give you a similar envelope marked 'smileys' and I believe that we will both be pleasantly surprised.
One of my associates will soon be calling you to discuss your problems with being mis-sold PPI and you may soon hear from on of my more fortunate relatives in Nigeria with an unmissable proposal regarding a share of an oilwell and your life savings. Please do not worry about paying tax on this landslide of money which is coming your way. Mr Google can advise you on ways of turning that into a magnificent profit.

To return to the subject. It was truly a splendid game of rugby, played on top of the ground at last. It is gratifying to see all of Albion's squad working together in set formations and yet being flexible enough to exchange attack and defence roles with alacrity, precision and effect. What is equally gratifying is the performance at Esher is rapidly the norm rather than the exception.
Keep it up Albion
Yours sincerely
Sheikh Al Be Hann
Mount Wise Mosque
PA30 ES15

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