Match report Albion .v. Ealing

On a bright spring afternoon with a reasonable turnout, an expectant Albion home support thought many tries were going to be scored and another home win recorded. Ealing knew anything other than an away win would send them down to the first division, on my arrival I was informed Rhys Oakley had failed a late fitness test on his calf, further disrupting an already depleted Albion line up.

From the out ste of the game Albion looked to be struggling in the set peice and this seemed to lift Ealing in the early stages.

Albion were giving away far to many penalties and Ealing had an early opportunity to open the scoring, and after ten minutes did so after kicking to the corner, thye caught the ball and drove towards the Albion line and Adam Preocanin showed good strenght to get over the whitewash.

Ben Ward also converted putting Ealing into a 0 - 7 advantage, and a few minutes later they were in the ascendancy again after another catch and drive took them to the Albion line, before referee Steven Lee penalised them and Albion survived.

There were a lot of concerned faces in the crowd as Albion were clearly struggling to get a foothold in the game, however, on 19 minutes Albion did get themselves back into the game, refusing a shot at goal Declan Cusack put the ball in the corner, initially from the catch and drive Albion made very little headway and quickly recycled the ball and Sam Matavesi drove hard and the flanker got injured in the process, Albion played on and Chris Elder came bursting through and took the ball in close to the posts.

Declan Cusack added the extras to level the scores at 7 - 7.

Albion in the fist half spent very little time in the Ealing red zone, and as ther game wore on decisions also appered to be going against the home team.

So, on 28 minutes Albion took the leadafter a decent break by Eoghan Grace taking Albion into the Ealing halfwher Declan Cusack out in a kick with nobody at home for the away side and Toby Howley-Berridge did superbly well to take the ball in his stride and put Albion into the lead which was further extended with Declan Cusack converting, 14 - 7.

As the half came to a close Ealing knew they had to score before half time and after a couple of 5 metre scrums Ed Siggery did get over reducing the arrears to 14 - 12 and crucially Ben Ward missed the conversion bringing the half to a close.

Before kick off the Herald announced their player of the season which went to the deserving Sean- Michael Stephen.

Having the knowledge that Jersey had been beaten today Ealing looked really lively inthe second half and after 47 minutes after Albion had given away a series of penalties went for a line out followed by a 5 metre scrum, and from the second scrum Morgan Thompson burrowed his way under a mass of bodies to score Ealing's third try, this was converted putting ealing in front at 14 - -19.

Albio's kick and chase game today was not up to it's usual standards, this also lead to a lack of good territory in which to break down a nervous looking Ealing side.

On 57 minutes Ablion recorded their third try after more good work by Toby Howley-Berridge whick lead to Jamie Davies going over to put Albion back in front 21 - 19 after Declan Cusack converted putting the pressure right back on Ealing who this afternoon brought on Sam Hocking, an Albion favourite with many local supporters.

Ealing to their credit were trying everthing, turning opportunities down to kick presentable penalties in their efforts to record a fourth try and a bonus point.

Then with time running out the real drama unfolded, Albion again gave away another penalty and this was kicked to the corner, with this probably being Ealing's last chance they threw all their playes into a driving maul and got closer and closer to the line and importantly remained calm and Ed Siggery was at the bottom of a mass of bodies and referee Steven Lee signalled a fourth try and bonus point for Ealing.

There was time for the kick off and as soon as the ball was caught it was kicked into touch where the game was brought to an end  21 - 26.

Ealing, for me wanted this victory more than Albion and their travelling support and players/coaches went wild with delight having achieved a five point haul.

For Albion if you have wathed all the home games this season I would have to say, frustrating, in parts some really good rugby played, and along with that the disappointment of losing home matches.

Away from home very competitive, and very good wins at Jersey and Ealing, learning to win games ugly at the moment might be a good thing.

So next week onto our final game of the season at Moseley, with hopefully a few more players returning from injury to the starting line up and perhaps we can conclude this season with another away win.

Good luck to both Ealing and Jersey next week as their life lines in the Championship will be decided.