By Corporalcarrot
October 27 2014

Jersey always win away in Plymouth and although the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle we did it again. A wonderful result and all the better for grinding it out when in all fairness Albion had the balance of possession and chances on the day.

The day started with a flight to Exeter and I ended up sitting next to a well known JEP reporter who was hiring a car and happy to give me a lift to Plymouth which got me to the hotel just after 11am. The whole squad were staying in the same hotel and my lucky streak continued as I was able to get a lift to the ground on the team bus with the advance guard who were taking the kit ahead of the players. An excellent lunch was enjoyed courtesy of some old and new friends from Plymouth in the Midas Marquee washed down with a couple of pints of Doom Bar. 

Plymouth have a brilliant ground to enjoy watching rugby even though the iconic old North Terrace has disappeared presumably condemed by the health and safety police.  

I usually watch matches from whichever five metre line Jersey are attacking but broke my habit for the day and watched from the East Stand with my lunch hosts. The raised position gives a cracking view of the whole field and the banter with the Albion lads was top class.

Albion outscored Jersey by two tries to one but an impeccable kicking performance by Aaron Penberthy meant we ultimately ground out a brilliant, wonderfully ugly win. Strong points in Jersey's game were line outs, midfield defence, Aaron's goal kicking, driving mauls and most of all our game management. Our Scrum was a mess again! It was interesting to see Alex Rae packing down at No8 rather than blind side although I personally think his natural position is second row.

Albion are a great club but are probably in the same place we were at after the Ealing match last year in that however well they play they can't seem to convert enough chances to win a match. The best example of this was the Penalty miss from virtually in front of the posts near the end which would have tied the game up. On another day he makes the kick and Albion press on for a win but on Saturday he missed the kick and Jersey go straight up the other end and drop a goal to seal the brilliantly ugly win.

It was good to meet up with Tom Fidler again - we could have used him in the scrums and enjoy the beer and banter in the bar in the ground and in the Dolphin later that evening.  The whole squad were on the town after the match and with a two week break ahead looked properly worse for wear next morning. What a great place Plymouth is and Jersey always win there.