'A MUCH-needed win' was how Plymouth Albion boss Graham Dawe described his side's stunning victory over second-placed Nottingham at Brickfields on Saturday.

Albion shocked their high-flying visitors, who went into the game on the back of seven consecutive wins, by outscoring them five tries to three to claim a 31-25 victory.

Saturday's triumph brought to an end a run of three successive defeats for Albion and greatly lifted the mood of everyone at Brickfields.

"It was a hard-earned win," said Dawe (pictured left), who became the first 50-year-old to play in the Championship when he came on for the final few minutes of Saturday's match.

"The boys put in a lot of effort – as they have done over the last few weeks.

"However, this week we have got the 'W' – a much-needed 'W' for the team, the club and for the feel good factor of the people of Plymouth."

Albion scored three of their tries in the first half to go in at the break 17-6 in front, but Nottingham hit back in the second period and Dawe's side found themselves hanging on after dominating most of the match.

"We did have a bit of a wobbly spell midway through the second half, but thankfully we came through it on the right side and we squeezed out the win," said Dawe.

"We actually started the game a bit tentatively. We made a few errors but the players' heads did not drop. Kieran (Hallett) kept the boys at it and they came through.

"I thought our tackling was much-improved."

Not only was Albion's tackling much-improved, but so was their forward play. The Albion pack was outstanding and provided a great platform for the backs, who responded by scoring four of the home side's four tries courtesy of Keni Fisilau, Ben Mercer, Ruairi Cushion and Hallett. Flanker Sean-Michael Stephen scored Albion's other try after a great break by fly-half Alex Davies.

It was only the second time this season Albion had collected a bonus point for scoring four or more tries.

Dawe said: "You always try to score tries when you play rugby, but it is about tiring the opposition defence out first to try and find the holes.

"We played well and did that, but we had some lucky breaks as well, which we have not always had.

"But credit to the players – they do believe in their ability."

Dawe now wants his team to keep the level of performance they showed on Saturday going, which is something they failed to do when they beat the Cornish Pirates a month ago.

Their next match is against another team flying high at the top, Bristol.

"You don't know what is around the corner," said Dawe. "But we'll just keep working hard and see what it brings.

"But the only time you can really judge a team is at the end of the regular season, which this year is the end of February. We just have to keep working hard until then."

Dawe and his team had come under pressure from some supporters after losing three in a row.

But the Albion boss only speaks highly of the club's fans.

"The support we have had has been great over the years, as it was on Saturday," said Dawe. "It is a big effort for them to come out week in week out and we really appreciate it. Yet it does bring pressures, but that is something we have to live with."