By Frank Stormont
August 27 2006

A great game to watch and well worth the access all areas £8 enterance fee. Tries for new signings Wihan Neethling and Federico Genoud  

Plymouth Allbion 36 Neath 21

 

An exciting match prior to the new season that saw Albion dominate the Welsh Premiership winners from last season for most of the match. With tries for new signings Wihan Neethling and Federico Genoud and also for Tom Hayes and a pair for Brett Stroud. A good solid performance by Albion in front of a disappointing crowd compared with last Sundays match, probably only a third of the gate of the 3000 announced for the Bath match.

With a change to the programme Ed Barnes comes in at inside centre to replace Keni Fisilau and Nigel Cane takes on the role as captain in the new Albion 2006/7 season shirts.

Chances of an early try where dashed after Ed Barnes broke through the Neath defence but just not enough support around. A penalty shortly after in the middle of the pitch gave Wihan Neethling an opportunity but the ball drifted wide to the cheers of the the All black Barmy Army, who had taken the rail outside the Coors Marquee.  

With just eight minutes into the match and a David Delaney kick from his own half towards the right hand corner was chased down by Wihan who took this chance to score with a try in the corner.  

After a short lapse in tempers on both sides A. Howells came off to have his blood injury seen to. The referee calmed things down, not for the last time in the match, and despite several outbursts managed not to show anyone a yellow or red card. At a recent match between Neath and London Welsh there were five players in the sin bin at one time!

When Neath held onto the ball at the breakdown the ball was kicked into touch on the 22.  The ball was caught and driven from the throw in and Neath were driven the 20 or so metres to cross the line and Brett Stroud to be at the bottom of the pile and awarded the try. The try was duly converted be Wihan to bring the score to 12 - 0.

Brett did not wait long to score his second try of the match and with just over twenty minutes on the clock Ed Barnes broke through the defence passing to Regardt van Eyk who in turn passed to Brett for him to make things easy for Wihan by putting the ball down under the posts, 19 - 0. 

Another attempt on the Neath line was unsuccessful as both Colin Stewart and Brett made attempts to cross the line but a five metre scrum was awarded as the referee, Nigel Higginson, deemed the ball to be held up. Tom Hayes' attempt from the scrum was also held up, he made up for it shortly after when he made a run off the back of the scrum from 20 metres out passing to Federico Genoud just short of the line for the new signing to claim his first points in an Albion shirt. The Wihan conversion brings the half time score to 26 - 0.

After the turn around Albion's two wingers are replaced with Tom Arscott and Nat Saumi also coming on was Mike Lewis for Brett Stroud. Wihan extended the lead with three penalty points just five minutes into the second half.

For the first time in the match Neath take control of the play as they move the ball all the way across the pitch from right to left and then back again left to right before scoring and reducing the deficit to 29 - 7. A similar move within minutes was stopped this time by the Albion defence.

With a penalty awarded just 15 metres in front of the Neath posts David Delaney took the Albion attach to a 5 metre lineout which gave Tom Hayes the opportunity to take the ball over the line with the pack for a driving maul try. The Wihan conversion saw the score move onto 36 - 7 and started the use of the rest of the bench as replacements.

Neath took an opportunity for a quick penalty at a maul and scored under the posts to add 7 points to their total. This was after two similar moves that had failed.

For the second time in the match Neath removed all their players for a driving maul leaving the Albion pack moving forward on their own and a penalty awarded for the successful "truck and trailer" trap.

With some of the Albion fans beginning to leave and the verbal support dwindng Neath take the advantage with a try under the posts to take the final points of the match and the score to 36 - 21.

Graham Dawe, Chairman of Rugby, enjoyed the match with a number of plus points but still shows up areas that can be improved on before the season starts. He thought that Nigel handled the role as captain very well with the normal captain Danny Thomas sitting on the bench for most of the match.

Keni Fisilau was unable to play on medical advise after he had been diagnosed with blood poisoning.  It is not expected that he will be unavailable for selection for too long and when asked if Keni would be available for the trip to Waterloo Graham replied that anything is possible.

Matt Newman has been ill and is doubtful to start against Lydney on Sunday and no selections have yet been made for the St Ives match on Tuesday.

 

Images up later day/ Monday

Also Team sheet will be added