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TWELVE unanswered points in the second half should have put the Tigers amongst the points, but it was a case of too little too late.
Plymouth, who had the bonus points wrapped up inside 37 minutes, did more than enough to claim a five point victory at Park Lane to claim the double again over Sedgley with a scoreline of 23-35
A first half penalty from Phil Jones, followed by a try and conversion from the fly-half was Sedgley's reply to Albion's five converted touchdowns.
Two more in the second half from Jon Skurr and Jonny Roddam kept the Tigers in the game with a chance of a point or two, but it was not to be.
SEDGLEY PARK 23
PLYMOUTH ALBION 35
National League Division One
ALBION'S pacy, clinical, expansive approach bore fruit as early as the sixth minute. Winning lineout ball on their own 10 metre line the forwards drove play downfield where Ed Barnes’ show-and-go foxed the Sedgley defence and two passes later Ed Lewsey went over by the home posts to claim the first of his hat-trick of touchdowns on his birthday. South African centre Regardt Van Eyk banged over the conversion and Albion had their noses in front.
In the face of such an onslaught Sedgley’s defence was found wanting. In particular their kicking game was very hit and miss: when it was good, particularly Matt Riley’s siege gun of a boot, it was very effective; when it was bad it simply yielded possession to an Albion side chomping at the bit to run the ball.
Poor tackling 10 minutes later allowed Albion to double their score. Lewsey and Barnes somehow evaded the Sedgley markers and the ball was slipped to prop Tim Mathias who went over close to the posts to give Van Eyk the easiest of kicks to make it 0-14. It got worse. Phil Jones’ restart kick was fed out to the left wing where Sestaret took play down the line before slipping the ball inside to Van Eyk in close support and he went in close to the posts before adding the extras with ease.
The Tigers finally got points on the board courtesy of a 21st minute Jones penalty before running in their first try. Albion’s re-start kick did not go 10 metres so play was taken back to the centre spot where Sedgley won the scrum. The ball went through the hands of Chris Briers, Tim Fourie, Jon Skurr and Ian Voortman before it was Jones’ turn to showboat, a show-and-go completely fooling the Albion midfield allowing him to trot in. Unfortunately his conversion attempt rebounded of the left-hand post leaving the scoreboard at 8-21. However, further pressure was rewarded with another Jones penalty taking the score to 11-21.
But Albion were soon running in their fourth try to claim the bonus point. Lineout ball pre-empted a rolling maul and when it was fed to Lewsey he somehow scampered over between the posts and Van Eyk added the extras to make it 11-28 after 37 minutes. Three minutes into time added on at the end of the first half they made it 11-35 when good forward pressure was rewarded with a penalty five metres from the Sedgley try line and a quick tap-and-go was followed by the inevitable rolling maul towards the line and Lewsey was their to claim his hat-trick followed by Van Eyk with his fifth successful conversion.
The second half was different but unfortunately for the Tigers not different enough.The heavy rain and strong wind seemed to take its toll on Albion, while with sleeves metaphorically rolled up Sedgley set about trying to overhaul the visitors’ lead. The Tigers; kicking game improved as did their ball retention as they strove to find a chink of light in Albion’s defence.
On 67 minutes Albion prop Scott Zimmerman was yellow-carded for cynically killing the ball at a ruck and the Tigers took immediate advantage. They elected to take a scrum five metres from the Albion line and a powerful drive was rounded off by Jon Skurr scooping the ball up and diving over to make it 16-35.
Ten more minutes of intensive pressure were rewarded with a third try. A quickly taken penalty was driven in hard by Skurr before the ball was slipped back inside and the rolling maul was rounded off by Jonny Roddam and converted by Jones.
Unfortunately Albion had already dome enough to secure the win and prevent the Tigers from claiming a bonus point or two, as once again a full-time side showed why they should always beat part-timers.
SEDGLEY PARK: Riley, Hall, Briers, Voortman (Duffy 48), Craig, Jones, Leck (J. Albinson 57), Evans (Gazzola 56), Roddam, Du Plessis (Roberts 76), Fourie, Norris (Swart 64), Newton, Ponton (Jope 64), Skurr. Replacements not used: Keys. Tries: Jones (27), Skurr (67) and Roddam (76). Conversions: Jones 1. Penalties: Jones 2.
PLYMOUTH ALBION: Saumi, Neethling, Van Eyk, Fisilau (Cruickshanks 60), Sestaret, Barnes, Lewsey (Newman 77), Mathias, Oxley (Owen 61), Zimmerman, Lewis (Arscott 54), Hayes, Genoud, Thomas, Lowrie (Smith 61). Replacements not used: Stroud and Evans. Tries: Lewsey (6, 37 and 42), Mathias (17) and Van Eyk (18). Conversions: Van Eyk 5. Yellow card: Zimmerman (67).
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