Match report Albion .v. Leeds
By A Nomad
January 5 2014
ALBION 14 LEEDS CARNEGIE 15 Disappointed? Improvements? Encouraged? Frustrated? If only? Not again! Any of these descriptions could be used when talking about this match. With Leeds sitting near the top of the tree and us unable to achieve a home league win this season few would have given Albion any real prospects of winning. However for most of the match that was definitely on the cards. The pitch was in excellent condition, the grass was a good healthy green although soft under-foot the scrums had few resets. The conditions were ideal for an entertaining game of rugby. Albion’s best crowd of the season, 1835, did witness an enthralling game even though it was dominated with penalties kicks.
Albion started well and within five minutes had their first points on the board thanks to a Declan Cusack penalty. He quickly had a second, Leeds frequently infringed and Mr Fox had words presumably with a warning. Leeds having got the message were more careful.
With the front row filled with ‘Chiefs’, Tom, Luke and Lloyd, Albion seemed to have the upper hand in the set pieces but it was from a scrum that they were penalised which gave Leeds their first points. This was one of the few occasions that Leeds had been able to get anywhere near Albion’s 22, especially in the opening 20 minutes.
Albion had the edge and had more territory and possession. Shortly after the first Leeds penalty Chris Elder came into a defensive line at speed and went for a daring interception, he got one hand to the ball but was unable to gather it before it went to ground. However shortly afterwards there was a turn over just outside the Leeds 22 on Albion’s left wing. Elder was again involved, he swept in field with the ball and once clear of the maul attempted to out to left wing Ben Woods who was racing for the line with no one to beat but the pass was adjudged to have been forward. Albion increased their lead with another penalty. The half ended with the score at 9 – 3. Omens seemed good Albion were playing well, could they keep it going for another 40 minutes.
Mr Fox, as befits a referee normally seen in the Premiership, was consistent with his decisions although as the second half wore on he was beginning to penalise Albion in the scrums and at rucks and mauls. As is the wont of many Premiership referees he played little heed of the Leeds’ crocked feds at the scrums. This was frustrating because almost invariably Albion then conceded penalties for various infringements. The Leeds full back McColl has a howitzer of a kick, which had been evident in the first half. On frequently in the second half he pushed Albion back from in and around the Leeds 22 to Albion’s 22. Albion’s lead disappeared following more penalty infringements from two lineouts following these long kicks. The first of these just landed on the cross bar and bounced over, more of cross bars later.
Albion’s never say die spirit was again evident and they pressured Leeds deep into their 22. Some loose play by Leeds had enabled Albion to hack on a loose ball for Tom Bowen to chase he claimed to have scored but the officials degreed that he had knocked on in the attempt to gain the ball. However Albion increased the pressure on Leeds and were awarded a 5 metre scrum. Ruairi Cushion managed to squeeze over near the corner flag. Unfortunately Declan’s attempted conversation sailed wide of the right hand post. Albion were back in the lead with a 5 point cushion. Leeds were busy making substitutions.
Albion continued to attack but two more penalties were conceded which enabled McColl to make huge territory gains and Albion under pressure conceded penalties either at the resultant lineout of subsequent play.
So with only a few minutes left Albion mounted a succession of all out attacks to gain the necessary points to get the win they deserved. Twice Declan was set up for a drop goal, the first was charged down but Albion regained the ball and continued to attempt to gain sufficient ground for another attempt. The forwards drove again and again and eventually set-up Declan for a final drop goal attempt, he was on the Leeds 10 metre line and although he did not get a huge contact with the ball it had the necessary distance but unlike McColl’s fortunate bounce on the cross bar his attempt was just under the bar. The referee then blew for ‘No Side.’
In conclusion Albion looked more like promotion candidates than Leeds. Leeds never really looked like scoring a try. This was down to Albion’s well organised defence and several hard hitting tackles. Their game management was good frequently making long kicks to put Leeds deep back in their half and under pressure. The scrum has improved greatly particularly since the match against London Welsh. However they did concede penalties when putting Leeds under pressure. This does remain an area that has to be worked on.
So, I’ll leave it to you to decide which word from the first line of this report that sums up this match
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Semper Sersum.
Most definately, forward display was excellent and very much improved, but the knockers still have a whinge don't they.
Whilst being plucky losere may get us losing bonus points, it would be nice to see a win for Albion at the Brickfields.
I think we are lucky that the bottom sides are not picking up wins, or we could have found ourselves in trouble, three wins out of eleven is a pretty poor return.
Personally, I feel it's a confidence issue. From my experience of playing sport at a fairly high level, confidence makes all the difference between winning or losing by a single point. It's hard to know how things will be turned around. But often it can be an innocuous piece of good luck that somehow generates a feeling; let's call it confidence, throughout the side and turns the tide.
Perseverance and dogged determination is the only way to reach this point: for both players and supporters. Giving up, throwing ones hands in the air, rolling ones eyes in acceptance of defeat, is not an option.
Albion are winners in waiting. We have to be patient and the flow of points and victories will come.
Allez Albion as they say in W London!!
I personally was proud of the efforts put in by the boys, LC Dickie was albion's motm, the scrum is definitely improving.
This league is very competitive, no easy game, I know that win will come.
Come on albion
Yes the front row was great but RC was the MotM for me and deserved his try. Not quite so sure about the drop goal attempts at the end. Surely a penalty was coming our way.
I'm starting to worry about the finances tho. We need a win to improve the gates, and the President's message in Saturday's programme was all too familiar.
Come on Albi.
Semper Sersum.