Search for
Search for
Search forAlbion are too strong for struggling Tigers
Monday, November 03, 2008, 07:00
Graham Dawe's side produced a clinical, if not quite perfect performance to comfortably dispose of the Tigers and claim their fifth National Division One win of the season.
For only the third time this term, the city outfit recorded a bonus point for scoring four tries and that was testament to the number of try scoring opportunities they created.
To be critical, such was Albion's dominance against a determined yet outclassed Sedgley Park side, that they should have had at least two more tries.
But the hosts – who led 11-0 at half-time thanks to a Justin Mensah-Coker try and six points from the boot of Kieran Hallett – never let their heads drop, even when they failed to make the most of their opportunities.
The result of Saturday's clash was never in doubt after Albion, playing against a strong breeze in the first period, went in at the break on the ascendancy.
However, it was a test of the players' characters as to how many points they could score and whether they could keep on going until the final whistle.
That test, it has to be said, was passed with flying colours as the hosts racked up three tries in the second half and added a further five points from what is rapidly turning into Hallett's trusty right boot.
With nearly an hour of the game gone, it looked as though Albion's failure to convert pressure and possession into tries was going to cost them.
They led 14-0 and with the Tigers offering little offensively, the win was virtually in the bag.
However, just the one try at home against one of the teams who will certainly be battling relegation come the end of the campaign, was not what the doctor ordered.
Then Dawe's side suddenly sparked into life, and two tries in four minutes courtesy of the impressive Mike Denbee and Mensah-Coker, his second of the match, woke up the game.
Sedgley scored their only try of the contest on 70 minutes through Chris Wilkinson, which captain Phil Jones converted, to narrow the gap to 26-7 and bring a temporary hush around Brickfields.
But a minute later replacement Tom Jarvis crossed for the all-important fourth try which sealed not only the bonus point, but a deserved victory.
Albion's win lifted them up a place in the table from eighth to seventh and to within five points of Doncaster in sixth, whom they meet next at Brickfields on Saturday.
But more importantly it brings their unbeaten run to three matches and means they have collected 11 points from their last three league outings.
Dawe's side are really beginning to click now as a team with both forwards and backs showing a greater understanding.
That, combined with the faultless commitment and fitness levels of the players, is rapidly seeing Albion evolving from 15 individuals into a unit desperate to do well for each other.
It was the hosts who began Saturday's match on the front foot and they came close to a first try after only 28 seconds.
Gareth Evans' excellent break saw him make his way from his own half into the Tigers' 22, but he was eventually tackled 20 metres from the try-line.
Albion continued to dominate proceedings though and they took a 3-0 lead on seven minutes after Park were penalised for not rolling away and Hallett made no mistake with the resulting penalty.
Dawe's side then had an opportunity on 13 minutes to record the opening try when the visitors were penalised for offside.
Hallett kicked the penalty into touch to set up the line-out which the hosts won to set-up the catch-and-drive.
But, as they edged towards the whitewash, Albion were then penalised and the chance had gone begging.
The Tigers had what looked like a gilt-edged chance to level the scores in 23 minutes after the hosts were penalised for offside.
But captain Jones missed the 22-metre kick from in front of the posts.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Albion worked their way into Park's half and they scored the game's opening try just two minutes later.
The Tigers lost possession on halfway and Evans collected the loose ball before off-loading to scrum-half Greg Nicholls.
He released Mensah-Coker and the winger used his pace to race in at the left hand corner.
Hallett missed the extras, but Albion now led 8-0.
On 28 minutes, Hallett made amends by kicking his second penalty of the match to extend the hosts' lead to 11-0.
The Tigers lost scrum-half Chris Leck six minutes later after he suffered a broken nose, but it did not stop them from ending the half on the front foot.
However, Albion's defence stood firm and they went in at the interval 11-0 ahead.
It took Dawe's side nine minutes of the second period to increase their lead.
Hallett, who appears to be improving week-by-week, made no mistake with a 15-metre penalty from in front of the posts to hand Albion a 14-0 advantage.
The Tigers, much to their credit, continued to battle but as the game neared the hour mark they fell further behind as Plymouth scored their second try of the match.
A driving maul saw Albion's forwards edge nearer to the Park whitewash and it was flanker Mike Denbee who appeared from a pile of bodies over the line with the ball in his grasp.
Hallett's conversion attempt missed, but Dawe's side were 19-0 ahead and victory was now theirs.
On 64 minutes Albion scored their third try courtesy of Canadian international Mensah-Coker who crossed for his second score of the match and his fourth try of the season.
Hallett kicked the extras and the home side were now 26-0 in front.
The Tigers scored their first try in the 70th minute courtesy of a close-range effort from Wilkinson, which Jones converted to narrow the deficit to 26-7.
Yet just a minute later, replacement Tom Jarvis registered Albion's fourth try to guarantee them their bonus point.
Hallett's conversion attempt sailed wide of the posts, but it was academic with the hosts leading 31-7.
Dawe's side, with their job done, comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest to claim their fifth league win of the season and their second successive home victory.
More pictures and Warriors report on Page 8
Voted Britain’s Favourite DIY store Free delivery on orders over £45.
Pet Insurance- 5% Online Discount
UK Pet Insurance. Buy instantly online. From just £4.85 per month.
Pet Insurance Reviewed By The Independent Experts At Which?
Comment on this story