PLYMOUTH MUGGED IN MEMORIAL MUDBATH

Leaping Lineouts, Batman
By Ian Todd
February 13 2011

In poor conditions Bristol edged to a tense, but deserved, win over Plymouth Albion.  Two tries from Tovey and Fatialofaon the back of a dogged performance from the pack were enough to see off the challenge of a side seeking to escape the relgation playoffs.

Continuous rain made handling,  kicking, and note-taking something of a lottery, but at least there was little or no wind.  The conditions led to a scrappy opening to the game; with both sides losing the ball and coughing up possession in a variety of entertaining ways.  Initially it seemed as if Plymouth were the sharper side and this view was exemplified when a wayward pass from Nicky Little was intercepted by Mitchell who raced away.  Sean Marsden, giving the lie to my earlier criticism of his lack of pace managed to track back and haul the Albion player down. 

Bristol continued to fling the ball about with surprising abandon given the slippery state of things but managed to get away with the errors that resulted from the inevitable handling slips.  Eventually the forwards managed to get a grip on things to bring this rather manic phase to a halt.  Plymouth had opportunities to punish Bristol but a tricky penalty hit the posts and was cleared by a startled Jack Tovey.  Hallett made up for the miss with a well struck effort soon after to move Plymouth 0 - 3 in front.

 Stung, Bristol started to string a few moves together but despite looking more organised and dynamic in the pack failed to find a way through the defence.  They were rewarded for their efforts in the tight with a penalty that I thought was a long way out, before I recalled that I had not seen Little kick for quite a while.  The kick went close, but not close enough.  He was similarly off target with a later effort.  Plymouth made the most of these let-offs and started to push Bristol back into their own half.  The visitors rucked and mauled down to the Bristol 22 before the ball popped out of a ruck on the Bristol side.  James Merriman was on to it like a flash and he sprinted away down the right touch line.  A fine hand-off allowed him to make further progress and , when finally halted he had the awareness and skill to feed the ball to the supporting Tovey.  The winger still had work to do but he managed to duck and squirm his way over the line.  Ed Barnes took over kicking duties, but was wide of the mark with his conversion attempt.  Still, Bristol had edged 5 - 3 in front in what promised to be a close-fought encounter.

 Encouraged, Bristol tried to move further in front and a chip kick over the defence saw the Plymouth 8 yellow carded for a clumsy and obvious piece of obstruction.  Barnes sent the resulting penalty over for a 8 - 3 at the close of the half. 

Bristol started the second half in similarly positive fashion, with the forwards hammering in to the opposition.  A well executed driving maul drove up to the line and Mariano Sambucetti was stopped just short of the line.  Junior Fatialofa showed good awareness of the ball's position and he darted in to pick up and crash over under the posts.  Barnes duly converted to hand Bristol a deserved 15 - 3 lead. 

Typically Bristol then gave away a penalty to Plymouth that was neatly dispatched to narrow the gap to 15 - 6.  Despite giving away a number of penalties, some harsh or inexplicable, Bristol managed to hang on as Plymouth sought another score.  Finally, the Bristol forwards managed to get hold of the ball and patiently force the visitors back.  Under some pressure Plymouth struggled to deal with the Bristol driving game and even when they forced a turnover were penalised when their loosehead decided to stamp on Sambucetti eeven though the ball was a couple of metres away.  Well spotted touch-judge!  Weakly the referee failed to show the deserved yellow card.

Plymouth then had a penalty of their own and, eschewing the option of a lineout catch-and-drive, went for a quick tap.  The forwards failed to find a way through and the ball went a little bit wider (given that there seemed to be only three backs) and Carpenter drove through, much to the disapproval of t he home support.  My own view was poor, but I would not be surprised to learn that the ball was spilled forward.  The conversion moved Plymouth to within two points of the hosts. 

Albion then showed the same failing as Bristol when the promptly gave away a kickable penalty, that Barnes sent over to extend Bristol's lead to 18 - 13.  Plymouth were desperate now and laid siege to the Bristol line.  Desperate defence held out the attacks, with the home supporters urging their side to cling on as  time ticked away.  At the very last Plymouth lost control of the ball and Bristol had clung on for a well deserved victory.