A Lang afternoon for awful Albanians

IT HAS been some time since an Old Albanian performance could be labelled as abject but such a description was appropriate here.

Esher took advantage of every opportunity presented by their own tireless efforts and their hosts’ generosity.

The result belies relative league positions but is the clearest of wake-up calls as Albanians look towards a new season with a new head coach.

Matters started almost brightly for the hosts who faced the stiff breeze in the first period.

A penalty try when Hugo Seccon was carded in the 11th minute had the hosts ahead early on and Ben Palmer’s conversion was a formality.

But 34 unanswered first-half points followed for Esher along with a four-try bonus point as Thomas James, Chris Halaufia, and James Lang, twice, all crossed.

The second half proved remarkably similar, Craig Dowsett crossing in the early minutes for the hosts only for Esher to reply through Sam Stanley, Spencer Sutherland, Calum Waters andJoseph Beckett with a further four tries.

Three penalties added to OAs woes in the course of a miserable afternoon.

Esher’s James Lang will have enjoyed his commanding performance which yielded a personal haul of 27 points.