Dismal Albion run continues after setback at Butts Park
PLYMOUTH Albion remain rooted in the Championship relegation play-off places following last night's defeat to Coventry at Butts Park Arena.
The Brickfields outfit played both halves with 14 men after Sean-Michael Stephen and former Coventry player Darren Clayton received yellow cards.
Albion trailed 20-10 at half-time with their points coming from a Liam Gibson try – his first of the season – and a Kieran Hallett penalty.
They did all they could in the second period to find a way back into the contest, but were unable to prevent a third successive Championship loss.
The loss, their sixth in their last seven league games, leaves chairman of rugby Graham Dawe's team third-bottom with 10 points from eight matches.
"It wasn't a great result but you don't expect too much when you come to Coventry on a Friday night," said Dawe.
"I thought the effort was there, but we made some costly errors and didn't get enough field position in either half to trouble their defence.
"It is just something we have got to keep on working on."
Albion, who have not won away since March 7 when they beat Sedgley Park 27-11, made three personnel changes from the side who lost 21-6 at home to Doncaster the previous weekend.
Prop Ryan Hopkins, lock Mike Lewis and fly-half Alex Davies – making his first start of the season – came into the side for Danny Porte, Tom Skelding and the injured Sione Tu'ipuluto respectively.
Additionally, Plymouth made four positional changes including Hallett moving to full-back from fly-half and Gary Kingdom switching from number 15 to the wing.
Ben Mercer moved from wing to outside centre and Keni Fisilau started at inside centre.
Albion made a dreadful start to last night's match, conceding a try as early as the second minute when Coventry captain James Miller capitalised on a huge hole in Plymouth's defence to touch down.
Fly-half Joe Carlisle, making his debut for the hosts following his loan move from Premiership side Worcester, added the extras to give the Midlands outfit a 7-0 advantage.
The visitors, to their credit, didn't let their heads drop and they enjoyed a good spell of possession before they tied the score on 10 minutes.
Fly-half Davies released centre Fisilau midway in the Coventry half and the Tongan made a superb break before offloading to winger Gibson who crossed the whitewash.
Hallett added the extras and Albion were back in the game, level at 7-7.
Parity was restored for just two minutes.
Albion were penalised for offside and Carlisle kicked the resulting penalty to put Coventry back in front, 10-7.
Three minutes later, the visitors were handed an opportunity to level the scores when they were awarded a penalty after Coventry were penalised for offside.
However, Hallett's kick drifted wide right of the posts and Plymouth remained three points adrift.
Both sides were looking to stamp their authority on the contest and Albion were giving as good as they got.
It was Coventry who came closest to troubling the scoreboard next when a blistering break from centre Philip MacKenzie on 23 minutes saw him tackled five-metres shy of the whitewash.
Albion managed to clear their lines, but Coventry regained possession and two minutes later Miller went over for his second try.
Carlisle missed the conversion, but the hosts now led 15-7.
Albion reduced the deficit to 15-10 on 27 minutes when Coventry were penalised for coming in over the top and Hallett kicked the resulting penalty.
Just two minutes later, Coventry scored their third try when MacKenzie went over from close range.
Carlisle was unable to add the extras, but Plymouth were now 20-10 behind.
Things got worse for Albion on 33 minutes when Sean-Michael Stephen received a yellow card for a professional foul.
The visitors did well to see out the remainder of the half without conceding further to head in at the break 10 points behind.
Albion came out for the second period still down to 14, but managed to prevent Coventry from adding to their points total before Stephen returned to the action on 44 minutes.
Back to 15 players, the visitors bid to reduce the deficit and came close to scoring their second try on 48 minutes.
Albion drove Coventry back towards their own try-line and although they managed to cross the whitewash, Gibson was unable to ground the ball.
Both sides then enjoyed spells of possession, but it was Coventry who had a chance to increase their lead on 56 minutes when Stephen was penalised for playing the ball on the floor.
Fortunately for Plymouth, Carlisle's penalty attempt missed and the hosts remained 20-10 in front.
Albion's chances of getting back into the contest were dealt a huge blow on 62 minutes when Darren Clayton received a yellow card for a high tackle.
The 14 men of Plymouth battled bravely but fell further behind, 23-10, on 72 minutes when Carlisle kicked a penalty after the visitors were penalised for offside.
Six minutes later, with the game virtually won, Carlisle tried an ambitious drop-goal attempt from 40 metres out, but the ball dropped well short.
The fly-half sealed Coventry's victory in the last minute when he kicked a penalty after Albion were again caught offside.
MATCH STATS
Coventry: Ben Russell, William Hurrell, Philip MacKenzie (Christopher Lewis 72), Fangatapu Apilotoa (James Lewis 64), Romain Plantey, Joseph Carlisle, Nathan Jones (Michael Walls 62), David Maddocks (Scott Roberts, blood, 40+3-40+4, 71), Joseph Merrigan (Ross McMillan 60), James Hall, Arthur Brenton (Benjamin Dechartres 66), Sam Herrington, James Miller (capt), Richard Bignell, Aaron Carpenter (Henno Venter 49).
Albion: Kieran Hallett (capt), Gary Kingdom, Ben Mercer, Keni Fisilau, Liam Gibson, Alex Davies (Mark Lee 72), Ruairi Cushion, Martin Rice (David Morton 80+3), Joe Clark, Ryan Hopkins (Danny Porte 80+1), Mike Lewis (Wayne Sprangle 63), Tyler Hotson, Sean-Michael Stephen (Rory Watts-Jones 72), Darren Clayton (Tom Skelding 76), Kyle Marriott. Rep (not used): Tom Kessell.
Scorers: Coventry: Tries: Miller (2), MacKenzie. Con: Carlisle. Pens: Carlisle (3). Albion: Try: Gibson. Con: Hallett. Pen: Hallett.
Cards: Coventry: None. Albion: Yellow: Stephen (33), Clayton (62)
Referee: Graham Knox (RFU).
Attendance: 1,500.
Man of the match: Liam Gibson: Scored Albion's try and looked dangerous whenever he had the chance to run at Coventry's defence.
24 Comments
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by s dunlop, plymouth
Thursday, October 29 2009, 7:46PM
“Dawsey needs to change his way of play and rapid , every team knows how to play against us. They suck us in on a ruck or maul situation leaving us short out wide and then the opposition send it wide and nearly every time they score because of the overlap and extra men.
We`re playing off the back foot from defence all the time instead of off the front foot attacking , which ends up stifling the players natural skills and freedom to spread the ball wide and stretch the opposition. Come on Dawsey , make the change , before it`s too late !”
by gary, redrow stand
Tuesday, October 27 2009, 5:03PM
“k, you are spot on with both points. the club has declined in the past few years. it was only december 06 that we were top and until we lost stewart and gulliver to injury which destroyed our pack were looking like we may have a crack at the title. also you are right that the loyal fans are annoyed and frustrated, we stand there week in week out having paid our hard earned money and become frustrated at what happens on the pitch. sad thing is that even with the money dawe has put together a talented and useful squad, he just doesnt seem to know how to get the best out of them week in week out.”
by K, See you in the beer tent
Monday, October 26 2009, 9:27PM
“Gary - Truce there my fellow supporter. Yes no doubt we have crossed paths if not in the stands then in the beer tent. Lets see what happens the remainder of the season. I do hope though we will be seeing another season here in the Championship, though .........? Would you not agree that the loyal fan base are getting just a little peed off with our current form and lets face it Gary we have been on the decline for a few seasons. Fingers crossed.”
by gary, at home
Monday, October 26 2009, 8:06PM
“k if you have been coming that long then we would probally recognise each other as ive been a regular for best part of 7-8 seasons. lets not get into an argument, were on the same side right?!
im merely saying that the club is better situated now than it has been for many years if you exclude the very recent history and that should not be forgotten.
with the troubles at bee's we will not go down this season, my thoughts are let dawe continue until end of season and if its obvious that nothing has changed then have a clear out and start fresh.”
by Eric Redman, Dartmouth
Monday, October 26 2009, 7:02PM
“We have a great bunch of lads in the team and as yet we have not seen their best on the field and nor are we likely to with our current set up. Any skill / talent seems to be stifled with our outdated tactical gameplan. How often do we see the ball passed out of contact? We still play with tactics from the Stone age, go to ground and recycle, it's so slow the momentum is lost and the move dies. Our coaching set up is at best inept, clueless and wouldn't know how to turn a game around if plan A wasn't working coz there has never been a plan B that's for sure. When is the board going to show any semblance of possessing a backbone? Changes need to be made NOW!!”