Match Report: Rosslyn Park 24 - 26 PARFC (Nat 1)
Plastic fantastic!
By A Nomad
January 3 2016
So we start the second half of the season with a win away from home against a team that won at the Brickfields and were above us in the league table. As you may be aware, at considerable expense, Rosslyn Park laid a new 3G pitch during the summer. (This match was the first for Albion on such a surface. We understand that the match in Ireland at Donnybrook was on grass - according to one of the few Albion fans to be there.) It provides a firm surface which actually suits Albion’s style. With the recent training sessions at Marjons, Albion looked comfortable on the surface. The pitch itself is close to maximum dimensions permitted, another factor that suited Albion with their fit and youthful team.
Clearly, with the excellent result at Hartpury last time out, our team are in a rich vein of form. We took the initiative on the score board and maintained it throughout the match - but the last few minutes were nerve racking with Rosslyn Park gaining field advantage and just 7 points adrift. Their pressure got them a try. Fortunately, it was out wide and the last kick to gain a draw went wide.
Apart from the odd occasion, our scrum held the upper hand and seemed to be stronger then the home team. However the referee did, on a number of occasions, find reasons to penalise us when we had put them under pressure. This was certainly so in the second half when the penalty count was something like 12:6 against us. This large difference frequently cost us good field position. Our team has fast reactions and speed of foot which may cause referees to think we must have been offside to make a number of cracking tackles. Apart from penalties conceded at the scrum the rest were mainly for offside.
In the first half we enjoyed territory and possession. An early penalty in front the posts gave Billy Searle an easy 3 points to get the score board moving; Park 0 - 3 Albion.
Our defence was up quickly whenever our opponents threaten to attack. The first try came from an interception made by Billy Searle. It was Park’s first real attack and they attempted to spin the ball out wide to their right. Billy made the interception and fed Harrison Cully who raced from deep inside our half to score near the posts. Another easy conversion for man of the moment, Billy Searle; Park 0 - 10 PARFC.
Park then had two successful penalties closing the gap to a mere 4 points. However, Albion restored the 7 point advantage with one of their own; Park 6 - 13 PARFC.
Albion were awarded a penalty and a good kick to touch gave them a line-out just outside Park’s 22 and on the left. There was a good re-start; the ball was fed quickly to the backs, Ethan Ford came into the line to create the extra man and scored out on the right wing. Billy was unable to make the conversion; Park 6 - 18 PARFC (which remained until HT).
At the interval, Park changed their scrum half and this sparked a resurgence in their play. They are renowned for the catch and drive tactics and early in the second this worked for them. They had a line-out in a similar position from where Albion had had success in the first half. As soon as the ball came in they formed a maul and advanced menacingly towards Albion’s line. After a period of relentless pressure, they managed to score out wide on their left. The conversion was unsuccessful; Park 11 - 18 PARFC.
However it was not long before Albion restored their 12 point advantage. Matt Shepherd made an excellent kick to touch which gave Park a line-out on their own 5 metre line on Albion’s right. For the second time in the game Albion scored on the first phase of play. However, it was a mistake by the Park hooker who over-threw the jumper which presented prop Christian Judge with the easiest of tries - having merely to catch the ball and fall over the line. Billy Searle missed the conversion; Park 11 - 23 PARFC.
Matt’s strike illustrated the strength of Albion’s kicking game. Kicks down field frequently put Park players under pressure. It was most notable how many Albion players followed up these kicks whilst their opponents merely stopped and watched apparently hoping that the ball would be cleared without their involvement. Frequently, they had to back-pedal because pressure had succeeded and Albion had gained field advantage. Even so, the home side would not lie down and after forward pressure following yet another penalty they scored their second try which again was unconverted; Park 16 - 23 PARFC.
Albion had the next score; they were awarded a penalty just inside Park’s half in the centre of the pitch. A really good kick by Billy Searle easily cleared the posts giving Albion a nice 10 point cushion; Park 16 - 26 PARFC.
As frequently happens after penalty kicks, Albion were themselves pinged close to the posts which made an easy kick for Park; Park 19 - 26 PARFC.
Having held a reasonable lead for most of the game Albion were now in danger of seeing a deserved win snatched away at the death. The referee had mystified Albion fans by some of his decisions and apparent failure to see offences committed by Park. With only a few minutes left, he decided that Sam Matavesi had infringed once too often and sent him to the sin bin. It is believed that this was for ‘hands in the ruck’, something he had apparently ignored previously. From the resultant penalty Park went for the line-out deep on Albion’s left. They secured the ball and again adopting their renowned tactics drove for the line to score their third try. The last kick of the match was the attempted conversion which failed to hit the target. FT: Rosslyn Park 24 - 26 PARFC.
A successful start to the second half of the season. There were plenty of Albion supporters at this game - let's hope many more will be encouraged by Albion’s good run of form to attend next Saturday's home game against Hull Ionians (KO: 15.00).
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:01:04:13:00:07 by lobina.
Looking forward to Hull this Saturday and hope momentum and the winning mentality continues .
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