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Monday, September 29, 2008, 07:00
PLYMOUTH Albion's display against London Welsh at Brickfields on Saturday was proof – if it was ever needed – that a week is a long time in professional sport.
If you rewind the clock back to September 20 and the city side's trip to Monks Lane to play Newbury, then it was hard to be positive about anything after Albion had suffered a hugely disappointing 19-11 defeat.
Yet even though Graham Dawe's side tasted another setback against Welsh – their third in five National Division One matches this season – those present at Brickfields could plainly see that the host team gave it everything in a bid to win the game.
To say that Saturday's performance was a contrast to the display at Newbury would be a huge understatement.
Albion produced some flowing rugby at times and that, combined with commitment, hard work and a huge desire to get something from the match, saw them claw their way back from a 19-0 deficit.
With half an hour of play completed, the majority of those watching – and I have to admit I was one of them – would have probably been concerned just by how many Plymouth were going to lose by.
The hosts had made a bright start, but a potent Welsh outfit had taken their chances and with three tries and two conversions on the board, there looked no way back for Albion.
Then, something seemed to click among the home players, and the tide began to slowly turn.
Dawe's side received some assistance in the 39th minute when visiting captain Mike Powell was yellow-carded for a professional foul
But they had to make the most of their one-man advantage to get themselves back into the contest and that is what they did in the fifth minute of added-on time when Geoff Griffiths scored a try.
Ross Laidlaw added the conversion and although still losing, 19-7, the hosts were now in with a shout of getting something out of the match.
Whatever was said in the Albion dressing room had the desired effect, as the hosts came out for the second period a different side from the first.
Plymouth dominated the early stages and they put the visitors under real pressure defensively.
With Welsh again reduced to 14 men – prop Aaron Liffchak was yellow-carded on 46 minutes for a professional foul – Plymouth narrowed the gap to 19-10 in the 59th minute with a Laidlaw penalty.
The hosts then produced some fine rugby in a bid to generate further momentum.
However, they could not find the killer pass or the crucial move to break down a stubborn and organised Welsh side.
Then, when fly-half Aled Thomas kicked six points with the boot to leave the visiting team 25-10 ahead with just eight minutes of regulation time remaining, it appeared that Albion had been finally blown out of the water.
Yet the players displayed enormous character to really take the game to Welsh and their efforts were deservedly rewarded with two tries from Martin Rice and Wayne Sprangle – Kieran Hallett converted both – in added-on time.
'A loss is a loss' I hear some people say, regardless of how well Albion played.
But my response to that is that the season is still only five matches old and if Saturday's performance is anything to go by, then Dawe's side should register far more wins than losses between now and the end of the campaign.
It was Welsh who opened the scoring on five minutes when number eight Tom Brown who went over for the game's first try.
Thomas kicked the conversion and the visitors were 7-0 ahead.
Albion responded well to going behind and they put real pressure on Welsh defensively as they searched for an equalising try.
But, just as they looked to have settled, the hosts conceded a second try on 20 minutes when hooker Sunia Koto-Vuli scored from close-range to give the visitors a 12-0 lead.
Thomas missed the conversion, but Welsh were now in a strong position, two scores in front.
The visitors tightened their stranglehold on the clash on 30 minutes when they were awarded a penalty try, which Thomas converted for 19-0.
But to their credit, the hosts continued to battle, forcing Welsh to defend their try-line with everything they had got.
Powell then departed on 39 minutes and six minutes later – after Liam Gibson's hamstring went with him on his way to a certain try – Griffiths touched down in the right-hand corner.
Laidlaw kicked a testing conversion and Albion, having narrowed the deficit to 19-7, went in at the break buoyed.
The hosts continued where they had left off and they made an encouraging start to the second period.
Welsh captain Powell returned on 45 minutes with Plymouth unable to add to any further points.
But the visitors were then reduced to 14 men for a second time just seconds later when Aaron Liffchak was yellow-carded for a professional foul.
However, despite dominating possession and territory, Albion could only add a 59th-minute Laidlaw penalty before the Welsh prop returned to the action.
Thomas added a penalty four minutes later before kicking a drop-goal on 72 minutes, to give the visitors a 25-10 lead.
However, while some sides may have laid down and conceded defeat, Albion did the opposite and they produced a storming finish.
Their hard-work and resolve resulted in a try for prop Martin Rice in the third minute of added-on time, which Hallett converted to reduce the deficit to 25-17.
With time still remaining and the hosts clearly in the ascendancy, the home supporters really started to get behind their team.
Albion added their third try in the eighth minute of added-on time when Griffiths made a determined break almost hugging the right-hand touchline before off-loading to replacement Wayne Sprangle who crossed the whitewash.
Hallett added the conversion and with the deficit down to just one at 25-24, the hosts could sense victory.
But the referee immediately blew for full-time and Albion had to settle for a bonus point.
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