CHAIRMAN of rugby Graham Dawe was left feeling frustrated after Plymouth Albion suffered a 33-8 Championship defeat to second-placed Bristol at Brickfields on Saturday.

The city side, who remain languishing in the relegation play-offs as a consequence of the loss, more than matched their visitors.

But, despite enjoying plenty of possession and seeing Bristol having a man sin-binned in either half, Albion could not record a second successive league victory following their impressive 31-25 home win over Nottingham.

Dawe said: "It was frustrating because we have been at home for the second week running and, after last week, we were buoyed by that result and hoping that we could trouble Bristol a bit more.

"But ultimately, when you look at the scoreboard, it doesn't seem as though we have troubled them.

"We lost a game of rugby and we lost it with a heavy score.

"We did a lot of power plays in the first half, but we couldn't break them.

"We didn't seem to be able to break them with our kick game, our running game or our power game.

"They were happy to give away penalties occasionally and we didn't respond with those opportunities."

Dawe added: "It was a rabbit which got away really. Fair play to Bristol, they played a smart game and they got points when they really needed them.

"We didn't get ours so much – Kieran (Hallett) didn't have a great day with the boot – so we were always playing catch up and it wasn't the sort of weather to play catch up.

"Bristol have got some good players and ultimately their drive game was good.

"It is something which Plymouth has been criticised for over the past seven or eight years."

Bristol were twice reduced to 14 men – when James Phillips threw a punch in the last minute of normal time in the first half as Albion pressed for a try.

And again in the 52nd minute when full-back Luke Arscott was yellow carded for a professional foul as he tried everything he could to stop Albion from scoring.

Minus the services of Phillips, Bristol outscored Albion 7-3 to lead 12-3 at half-time.

In the second period when they were down to 14 men, the visitors scored seven points, as opposed to Plymouth's five.

When asked about his side's failure to make the most of their numerical advantage Dawe said: "It isn't easy. You have got to get field position and you have got to work out how you are going to do it because they (Bristol) are very smart.

"They kept their width, their back three kept their depth, they didn't commit too many people to rucks and they just played very smart when they were down to those numbers."

Despite the defeat, Albion's seventh of the season in 10 matches, Dawe said there were some pleasing aspects in Saturday's encounter.

"There are positives we can take from the game without getting carried away," said Dawe.

"The effort was there and the power game was there. We just need a bit more league experience, a bit more experience of unlocking defences and staying patient, but it is easy on the sidelines.

"All the players are working extremely hard. Our tackling was good until the last 15 minutes, but fair play to Bristol they put away their scores really well."

Next up for Albion is a testing trip to London Welsh, a game in which they will be looking to record only their second win in six matches.

"We need to digest this game, pick ourselves up and get back on the road," said Dawe. "We have been knocked in the gutter a little bit."