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Search forAlbion impress in win over Welsh champions
Monday, August 25, 2008, 07:00
The hosts handed debuts to five of their summer signings – Tom Jarvis, Greg Nicholls, James Tideswell, Arthur Brenton and Justin Mensah-Coker – and each player contributed to the win.
Jarvis capped a fine display with a try, while Mensah-Coker and Nicholls, in particular, impressed against a physical Neath side.
The only blips for Albion on an otherwise good day were injuries to back-row forwards Kyle Marriott and Jake Childs.
Marriott turned his ankle and was replaced by Danny Thomas on 23 minutes.
However, he should be fit for Saturday's National Division One clash with Coventry.
The same cannot be said of Childs, who was stretchered off in the first minute of first half added-on time with a shoulder problem.
He appears to be a major doubt for this weekend's home encounter.
Albion made a bright start to Saturday's match and Nicholls and James Owen linked up well in the third minute.
An exchange of passes saw Nicholls make his way towards the Neath try-line, but he was stopped just six metres from the whitewash and the score remained deadlocked.
Neath responded six minutes later by working their way into Albion's 22 for the first time in the match.
However, the hosts defended well and when Tideswell kicked clear and gave chase, he came close to scoring the game's opening try.
Neath managed to clear their lines under pressure, but Plymouth continued to push and they pinned the visitors back into their 22.
Visiting lock Euros Evans was penalised for killing the ball on 13 minutes and that presented Ross Laidlaw with an opportunity to open both his and Albion's account for the season.
The fly-half made no mistake with the penalty to give the home side a 3-0 lead.
Neath hit back and they came within five-metres of scoring the game's opening try on 19 minutes.
Winger David Evans made his way along the left-hand touchline, but just as he looked set to score, Liam Gibson produced a superb tackle to send him into touch.
Albion lost Marriott on 23 minutes yet just one minute later, the hosts scored the first try of the match and it was thanks to a superb break from scrum-half Nicholls.
He made 30-metres before releasing Gibson, who in turn fed Laidlaw before the ball was spun out wide to Arran Cruickshanks.
The centre fed Owen and the hooker held off an attempted tackle to allow Fisilau to go over from five-metres out.
Laidlaw missed the conversion, but Albion now led 8-0.
Both sides then enjoyed their fair share of possession and territory without troubling the scoreboard.
The hosts were then dealt a further injury blow in the first minute of added-on time when Childs was stretchered off to be replaced by Jamie Tripcony.
Neath had a chance to reduce the deficit four minutes later when they were awarded a penalty.
But Matthew Jarvis' 40-metre attempt drifted wide right of the posts and the two sides went in at the interval with Albion 8-0 ahead.
The second period began with Neath enjoying the better of the possession.
But it was the hosts who produced the first decisive play of the half just eight minutes in.
Fisilau made a strong break and released Mensah-Coker, who burst his way along the left-hand touchline before setting up Jarvis to go over for Albion's second try.
Laidlaw's conversion sailed wide right of the posts, but Plymouth now led 13-0.
Neath responded well and they came close to scoring their first try on 52 minutes, but winger Kevin James was held up just shy of the line.
However, Albion were penalised for offside and fly-half Jarvis made no mistake with the resultant penalty to reduce the deficit to 13-3.
Four minutes later, the hosts had an excellent opportunity to restore their 13-point advantage when Neath were penalised for offside.
But Laidlaw's 25-metre kick from a central position sailed left of the posts and the chance was wasted.
Neath took full advantage and they reduced the deficit to 13-10 on the hour-mark.
Winger David Evans went over for their first try of the match and Jarvis added the conversion from in front of the posts.
Neath tried desperately to break down Albion again, but the hosts were determined to hold onto their lead.
The visitors came close to a second try on 76 minutes when winger Evans made his way to 22-metres from Plymouth's try-line.
But a superb tackle from replacement Ross Allan sent the winger into touch and the danger was averted.
Neath pressed again and they camped themselves on Albion's try-line, but the hosts maintained their composure and managed to clear their lines.
Tongan scrum-half David Palu replaced the impressive Nicholls in the first minute of added-on time to come on for his debut.
He and his team-mates had some defending to do as Neath ended the match on top, pressing for Albion's try-line.
But the home side held out and claimed a morale-boosting victory ahead of Saturday's National Division One opener at home to Coventry.
Plymouth Albion: Tom Jarvis, Liam Gibson, Keni Fisilau, Arran Cruickshanks (Ross Allan 67), Justin Mensah-Coker, Ross Laidlaw, Greg Nicholls (David Palu 80+1), Martin Rice, James Owen, James Tideswell, Colin Stewart, Arthur Brenton (capt), Jake Childs (Jamie Tripcony 40+1), Mike Denbee, Kyle Marriott (Danny Thomas 23). Reps (not used): Alex Davies, Matt Newman, Ryan Hopkins, Jamie Salter, Nat Saumi.
Neath: Gareth King, Kevin James, Steve Thomas, Wayne Mitchell, David Evans, Matthew Jarvis, Gareth James, Nicky Downs, Jim Richards, Martin Jones, Euros Evans, Neil Edwards, Gareth Gravell, James Merriman, Lee Beach (capt). Reps: Craig Mitchell, Ashleigh James, Steve Martin, Gerwyn Price, Lee Evans, Howard Thomas, Matthew Nuthall, Dafydd Lockyer, Liam Powell, Kristian Phillips, Tavis Knoyle, Andy Llewellyn, Haydon Pugh, Ciaron Ruddock, Andrew Littlehayes.
Scorers: Albion: Tries: Fisilau, Jarvis. Pen: Laidlaw.
Neath: Try: David Evans. Con: Jarvis. Pen: Jarvis.
Attendance: 1,000.
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