AN UNINSPIRING performance, to say the least, cost Plymouth Albion dear in Saturday's Championship clash against Doncaster Knights.

From the outset of the encounter, there was clearly a spark missing from the Albion machine.

And even though they battled away for the entire match, the home side never looked capable of claiming only their third win of the season.

Despite struggling to find any sort of consistency this term, Graham Dawe's side started the match as clear favourites against a Doncaster outfit, who arrived for the game with six defeats from six matches.

Yet, it was the South Yorkshire side who looked the more assured throughout and even when the two teams went in at the break tied 6-6, there only ever looked to be one winner.

Albion huffed and puffed for all their might, but they never threatened to blow the Doncaster house down once.

For the second time this season in just four home matches they failed to score a try and more worryingly, they never really looked like doing so.

Doncaster played the better rugby throughout and while Albion looked devoid of ideas and confidence, the visitors were the total opposite.

They threw the ball around, kicked when they needed to, and crucially they came up with the goods when it mattered.

Having coped well with the sin-binning of Sione Tu'ipulotu at the end of the first half, Plymouth enjoyed a good start to the second period, dominating possession and territory.

Had they made their superiority count at that moment, then they may just have gone on to win the game.

But they could not break down a determined Doncaster defence and once skipper Kieran Hallett missed a difficult penalty chance to put his side in front for the first time, the visitors assumed control.

Two tries later – one of them a penalty try – aided by a conversion and a drop-goal from fly-half Ali Warnock and the victory was Doncaster's.

With nearly a third of the season gone and with an unforgiving fixture list ahead of them, it is apparent that Plymouth need to start picking up their game quickly.

Then, having picked it up, they need to try and find some consistency.

Only three times this season have they played anywhere near their full potential.

The first occasion came on the opening game of the season against a poor Birmingham-Solihull side who sit bottom of the table.

The other two times occurred in the derby matches – at Exeter in a 30-24 defeat and in the 16-8 home win over Cornish Pirates.

It remains to be seen what Albion team turns up for Friday night's crucial clash at Coventry.

Albion entered Saturday's match with just one recognised hooker, Joe Clark, in their squad after James Owen was ruled out with an elbow injury.

And it was Doncaster who drew first blood after just seven minutes.

Albion flanker Darren Clayton was penalised for use of the boot and Doncaster fly-half Warnock stroked the resulting penalty between the posts from 35-metres to put his side 3-0 ahead.

It took the hosts just five minutes to respond. Doncaster were penalised for not binding correctly at the scrum and Plymouth captain Hallett kicked the three points on offer.

Both sides then enjoyed good spells of possession but Albion received a blow on 29 minutes when Tongan centre Tu'ipulotu was harshly yellow-carded for what referee Roy Mabank decreed a dangerous tackle on opposite centre Bevon Armitage.

Warnock put the visitors ahead for a second time, 6-3, after kicking the resulting penalty.

Four minutes later, however, Albion were level again.

Doncaster were penalised for offside and Hallett made no mistake with the penalty.

The hosts then went looking for more points and they came close to scoring the game's opening try on 38 minutes.

Liam Gibson edged his way towards the Doncaster try-line, but he was then penalised for not releasing.

Tu'ipulotu made his return moments later and with the scoreboard troubled no further, the two sides went in at the break tied at 6-6.

Albion came out for the second half the livelier, but despite spending the first four minutes camped in the Doncaster half, they could not add to their points total.

The hosts were presented with an opportunity to take the lead for the first time on 47 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Hallett's attempt from the halfway line fell well short.

Albion lost Tu'ipulotu with an serious-looking knee injury on 51 minutes with Alex Davies replacing him.

Davies went to full-back, Gary Kingdom switched to the wing and Ben Mercer came inside to centre.

Coincidence or not, shortly after the enforced changes, Doncaster went back in front.

The visitors were awarded a series of five-metre scrums and after Albion brought them down, referee Maybank awarded a penalty try on 58 minutes.

Warnock kicked the conversion and Doncaster were 13-6 in front.

Seven minutes later, Albion fell further behind when the visitors doubled their try tally.

Number eight Andy Boyde touched down from close-range, and although Warnock failed to add the extras, Doncaster now led 18-6.

Albion did all they could to try and force their way back into the contest.

But they were unable to trouble the visitors and instead, they fell further behind on 76 minutes when Warnock's drop-goal stretched Doncaster's lead to 21-6.

The closing moments of the game were played out with no further scoring, leaving Albion to dwell on yet another defeat and Doncaster to celebrate their first win of the 2009-10 campaign.

A YOUNG Plymouth Albion Warriors team went down 48-14 at home to a strong Esher side in the RugbyTech Shield on Saturday.

The Albion team, totally made up of players under 23, battled hard and produced some good play, but were out-muscled by a giant Esher pack.

Dan Cheer and Josh Perkins scored tries for the Albion side. Cheer also added two conversions.

Warriors: M Venables, A Jeffery, S Johns, A Lynch (J Perkins 40-50), D Cheer, O Rayner (J Perkins 50), T Kessell, J Patey (N Holmes 45), R Freestone, P Creek, D MacDonald, J Tripcony, C Grace, S Bryce, O Lloyd.