Match report friday evening Albion .v. Bedford
By Flamker7
November 23 2013
On my arrival at the Brickfields tonight,it was a bitterly cold night, with an ever increasing wind as the evening progressed. Albion as a club have opted to stick with their adventure of playing Friday night rugby under the lights, and tonight's attendance was 1548. Bedford kicked off and sent the ball deep into Albion's 22 where Chris Elder caught the ball and started to evade tackles and made good ground into the Bedford half before kicking the ball forward and giving chase the ball went out of play on the 25, a good pressing start to the game for Albion. Albion's first lineout was given as not straight, and the first scrum of the evening referee Ian Tempest stepped in to adjudge Albion had infringed and gave Bedford a penalty. The set piece for Albion still has its problems, equally Bedford early doors looked like a side devoid of confidence. Albion managed to turn Bedford over and spread the ball out wide, due to a lack of support Albion themselves were turned over and a penalty given as an Albion player went in off his feet. Michael LeBourgeois stepped up and slotted the kick giving Bedford an early 3-0 lead after just a few minutes play
The early stages of the game were very scrappy with both sides knocking on trying to gain ascendency in the game. After 10 minutes into the game A Declan Cusack chip almost puts T Bowen away as he tries to gather the ball, and unfortunately knocked on still Albion trying to get a foothold into the game, with decisions in the scrum going mainly in Albion's favour now.
Declan Cusack put over a lengthy penalty to bring the scores level at 3-3.
19-56 After tremendous work by Sean Michael Stephens and the Albion pack another penalty was concided by the Blues and D Cusack stepped up and gave Albion a 6-3 lead.
Neither side could gain territory without breaking down and conceding penalties, and this pattern of the first half continued for long spells.
20-07 Paul Rowley kicks into Bedford 22 after Albion spread the ball from one side of the park to the other, another opportunity breaks down and then Bedford get penalised for crossing, In trying to gain a real advantsge D Cusack kicked the ball right out of play trying to land a kick deep into the Bedford 22.
During the first half both sides opted to kick a fair amount of ball and possession away, Then right on half time with Bedford trying to mount an attack with a overlap opening up the Albion defence the ball was lost and another chance in the game went begging.
Straight away Albion made Bedford pay, after yet another error the ball went loose and T Bowen kicked on and ran in as close as he could to the posts to make the conversion more kickable and D Cusack obligued. Half time Albion 13 Bedford Blues 3.
Almost immediately from the kick off in the second half M LeBourgeois got Blues back into the game with a penalty making the score 13-6.
This seemed to inspire the Bedford team and a few minutes later the whole game had a totally different complex, tion to it, with Bedford attacking out wide J Short got the ball and took on a kick and chase and to his credit touched down making the score 13-11 and M Le Bourgeois added the extras now 13-13 and game on.
Confidence certainly looked to be a problem for the home side as from the kick off more pressure put on the side as the ball was kicked straight out.
On 51 minutes D Cusack intercepts a wayward pass and sprints up the field to be brought to ground in the Bedford 22 which lead to an Albion penalty and Albion going back in front at 16-13.
Albion ring the changes as R Cushion comes on H.Stupple M Crumpton and B Rogers, for a period of time Albion tried to gain some possession and on trying to throw the ball about and counter attack the alert M Atkinson intercepted a pass and strolled in by the posts, and a successful conversion Blues now in the ascendency and looking for the away win 16-20.
Changes were being made by both sides and on 21-00 J Shanahan brings himself on for D Cusack, two minutes later T Bowen limped out of the game, Bedford now applied real pressure on Albion and after many phases P Tapley broke through the Albion defence to add a third try by the posts and was converted taking the score to 16-27.
Both lineouts won and lost ball all night, scrums were won and lost on a regular basis this gave Albion no platform to try and get back into the game.
As full time approached and Albion looking to acquire a losing bonus point another injury led to Albion finishing the game with 14 men, J Arnott leaving the game with an arm injury.
Just when it looked like a try in the corner was going to happen the asst Referee spoke with the referee and a penalty to Albion was reversed, which saw the home support leaving thoroughly disappointed.
In conclusion the best side won on the night, all those changes by M Rayer proved to be the right call, this did have significant impact to Bedford.
From an Albion perspective another home loss and a 13-3 lead disappeared in a few second half minutes real concern.
I'm sure Shanners will ring the changes for Rotherham Titans next Friday night, and I for one will be looking for a huge improvement and that elusive home win.
This Albion squad will tick and someone will be on the end of an hiding I'm sure, confidence and winning do effect certain players and learning how to win games from a good position needs to be addressed.
There were no cards all night which in an evening of frustration and disappointment is a positive.
Come on Albion!!!!!!!!!!!
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The coach and his team need to put all of their effort into coaching, nothing else!
Really thought that this season Albion were going to be on the up, obviously not.
This season is about consolidation and improvement from previous seasons (5-6) .
There is a lot of potential in the squad which on some occasions are a jekyll and hyde squad , very good at a stage and then very bad at another stage .
The Bedford game first half was poor from both sides . Albion's second half was appalling .
I for one , would not like to see another performance like I saw Friday evening , and I really dislike Friday night games , but I will still be their .
So , give thought to the supporters that turn up Friday evening against Rotherham, play the game the way you know and don't force the chances that are created or gifted .
Best of Luck
Plymouth Bred , Plymouth Born .
C'mon Albiiioooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.