Moseley mount second half comeback to hold Albion at Brickfields
Plymouth Albion 34
Moseley 34
Greene King IPA RFU Championship, Friday 20 September 2013
Albion supporters at Friday evening's game at Brickfields could be forgiven for feeling a little shellshocked after witnessing their side race into a 31-6 lead but end up with only a draw.
After a bonus point victory in their Sandy Park win against Jersey on Sunday, confidence was high and it seemed to be telling in an impressive first half display.
Their first half dominance saw tries from Dan Mugford, Heath Stevens, Sam Matavesi and Tom Bowen take Albion into what looked like a winning lead. Disappointingly, Moseley scored just before the break with Ollie Thomas converting a Rhys Buckley try to make it 31-13 going into the second half and signal a remarkable fight back.
Moseley piled on the pressure thereafter, though Plymouth compounded this by giving away a number of penalties. Moseley scored through a converted Cory Hill try but could not take advantage of Albion's generosity in conceding penalty kicks. Albion upped their tally to 34 points with a timely Mugford penalty, but when they needed to close the game out, they came undone.
With five minutes of normal time remaining, Moseley scored two quick tries courtesy of Anthony Carter and Matty Williams - converted by Thomas - to bring the scores level. A frantic injury time might have seen either side win it, but neither was able to capitalise from penalties.
The result is hardly a disaster, but Albion will be mulling over quite how they managed to let a sizeable lead slip and not make it two wins from two this season.
Plymouth Albion: Chris Elder, Tom Bowen, Toby Howley-Berridge, Heath Stevens, Ben Woods (James Shanahan 68), Dan Mugford, Ruairi Cushion (Paul Rowley 68), David Morton, Gareth Evans (Davy McGregor 49), Matt Shields (Ben Rogers 62), Rhys Oakley (capt), Brett Beukeboom, Sam Matavesi (Rob Langley 67), Eoghan Grace, Sean-Michael Stephen (Ien Ascroft-Leigh 60). Reps not used: Louis Messer
Tries: Mugford, Stevens, Matavesi, Bowen
Cons: Mugford 4
Pens: Mugford 2
Cards: Yellow: Howley-Berridge (18 mins), Matavesi (43 mins)
Moseley: Michael Penn (Simon Hunt 49), Scott Armstrong, Greg King, Anthony Carter, Matty Williams, Ollie Thomas, Sam Brown (Alex Day 36-40, 62), Craig Voisey, Rhys Buckley (William Evans 16-19, 70), Ben Evans (Adam Parkins 67), Alex Woolford, Cory Hill (Mike Powell 67), Nigel Burrows (Buster Lawrence 54), Ollie Robinson, Neil Mason.
Tries: Buckley, Hill, Carter, Williams
Cons: Thomas 4
Pens: Thomas 2
Referee: Mathew Carley (RFU)
Attendance: 1,746
