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Search forAlbion bounce back to claim Moseley victory
Monday, October 20, 2008, 02:01
The clash with the Midlands outfit could have seen Plymouth still with their heads down from their 41-14 home loss to Exeter Chiefs.
But instead, displaying a resolve and a determination to return to winning as soon as possible, the hosts deservedly clinched their fourth National Division One victory of the campaign.
Last weekend against Exeter, Albion were unlucky to have lost by a 27-point margin after producing a battling performance.
On Saturday, they could have won by at least that amount after creating a whole host of opportunities.
The hosts scored two tries to Moseley's one and always looked likely to add to their total.
But, although they found themselves, on several occasions, in good positions to do just that, that final killer pass was lacking.
On another day, Albion's inability to convert those chances could cost them dear.
Yet on Saturday, despite Moseley's willingness to work hard for the entire match, there only ever looked like being one winner after Albion scored their first try.
Graham Dawe's side looked the fitter throughout and a much more coherent unit than the visitors.
They battled just as hard as Moseley, but they also produced some stunning passing moves and a number of mauls, which saw them put the visitors under real pressure. On top of that, Albion's defensive display was first class.
They looked solid throughout and it was only in added-on time that Moseley managed to breach Plymouth's defence for their only try of the game.
Despite conceding that late try, the city side can be well pleased with their efforts on Saturday.
Kieran Hallett, in particular, was impressive, kicking 16 points from a possible 19.
He missed just the one penalty, but it was the timing of his successful kicks which were the key.
Two penalties drew Albion level twice at 3-3 and 6-6, before a conversion, a penalty and another conversion, ensured the hosts headed in at the break 23-6 in front.
That gave Albion some much-needed confidence and foundations which they could build on.
The most important thing for Albion on Saturday was to win the match, regardless of the performance and the scoreline.
That job was done with relative ease to move Albion above Moseley and the Cornish Pirates and jump from ninth to seventh in the league table.
A tricky trip to Rotherham on Saturday is up next for Dawe's side.
But they can head to South Yorkshire with renewed optimism following their deserved triumph over Moseley.
Looking further ahead, the significance of the victory could be huge when it comes to deciding which division Albion will be playing in next season.
Should National Division One see five teams relegated at the end of the campaign – which is the scenario expected to happen – then Saturday's four points could yet turn out to be crucial.
It was Moseley who drew first blood on Saturday, courtesy of a sixth-minute drop-goal from fly-half Richard Vasey.
However, two minutes later, Hallett restored parity with a penalty.
The visitors reclaimed their three-point lead in the 10th minute with a Vasey penalty.
But Albion levelled again on 23 minutes when Moseley were penalised for not rolling away and Hallett kicked his second successful penalty to make it 6-6.
A minute later, the home side went in front for the first time thanks to Tom Jarvis' first league try.
The impressive Nat Saumi made good ground upfield and he passed to Hallett who kicked the ball deep into Moseley territory.
Full-back Andy Binns was unable to collect the ball and Jarvis took full advantage. Hallett made no mistake with the conversion and Albion were now 13-6 ahead.
Plymouth's fly-half missed his only kick of the game on 32 minutes when a 40-metre penalty attempt dropped short of the posts.
But Hallett made amends two minutes later when flanker Neil Mason was penalised for offside and he kicked the ball through the posts for 16-6.
Moseley reduced the deficit to 16-9 on 37 minutes. Albion were penalised for not rolling away and Vasey kicked the resulting penalty.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men two minutes later when James Rodwell was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Albion took full advantage in the first minute of added-on time when number eight Gareth Evans was driven over for his third try in three matches.
Plymouth's Arran Cruickshanks and Moseley's Mason both received yellow cards after punches were thrown as the try was scored.
Once things had died down, Hallett added the extras to give Albion a 23-9 half-time lead.
Three minutes into the second half – despite being down to 13 players – Moseley narrowed the gap to 23-12 with a third Vasey penalty.
The hosts then wasted two glorious chances to add to their try total on 45 and 49 minutes, respectively. The second saw Sean-Michael Stephen get over the line after good play by Evans and Denbee, only for the Canadian to have the ball knocked out of his hands as he tried to ground it.
But the Brickfields outfit managed to extend their lead to 26-12 on 58 minutes when Hallett kicked his fourth penalty.
Moseley, to their credit, continued to battle and centre Jack Adams thought he had scored a try 13 minutes later.
Fortunately for Albion and their supporters, play was called back after referee Ashley Rowden decided that a Moseley player had knocked on.
Albion's chairman of rugby Dawe entered the fray after 74 minutes, coming on as a replacement for James Owen.
Within two minutes, Dawe linked up with Evans in a play which saw the former England hooker bursting inside Moseley's 22. Dawe, unable to go the distance, teed the ball up for fellow replacement Ryan Hopkins, but Moseley snatched possession and they cleared the danger.
Albion were looking the stronger team the more the game went on, but having failed to make their chances count, Moseley were still in the game.
The visitors set up a tense finish when Rodwell scored his side's opening try in the first minute of added-on time to reduce the deficit to 26-17.
Vasey missed the conversion, which would have given the visitors a losing bonus point and added to the pressure.
Hallett attempted a drop-goal in the fourth minute of added-on time to try and finally seal the win, but it drifted wide of the posts.
But that was the last meaningful action in the match and it was Albion who gained the all-important four points.
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