Shock averted by Skinner late show as Albion tie
ON THEIR first visit to Brickfields, Old Elthamians nearly caused an upset against high-flying Plymouth Albion.
In foul conditions, Elthamians led 17-12 with two minutes of normal time left and looked like holding out for what, for them, would have been a significant victory.
But a late try from Plymouth centre Harvey Skinner tied the scores and fly-half Dan Mugford had a chance to snatch victory with the conversion.
Mugford’s kick from the touchline was well wide of the target and a disappointed Plymouth will see this as points lost rather than gained.
A delighted Elthamians director of rugby Gavin Lach said: “From one to 20 that was an outstanding performance.
“Our centres and back row were superb and that was without doubt our best performance since coming into National 1.
“If someone had said to me when the fixtures came out in July that we would get a draw at Plymouth I would have ripped their arm off.
“At half-time we spoke about keeping the ball and going through the phases and that is exactly what we did in the second 40.”
Elthamians, who had the strong wind behind them in the first half, missed an early chance to take the lead when fly-half Tom White was wide with a penalty from halfway.
The visitors got their noses in front when flanker Harry Ledger finished off a series of forward drives with White adding the extras.
Plymouth hit back and opened their account when hooker Rupert Freestone finished off a close-range catch and drive.
Shortly afterwards
Plymouth set up another driving maul on the 22 but Elthamians managed to hold it up over the try line.
From the resultant fivemetre scrum Plymouth went ahead after the referee awarded them a penalty try.
Elthamians started the second half on the front foot and went ahead for a second time when centre Max Wilkins sliced through the Plymouth defence for a try that White converted.
On the hour Plymouth were caught offside on their 22 and White stretched Elthamians’ lead to five points with the resultant penalty.
Late in the game Plymouth tied the scores when, after running back a kick, wing Matt Crosscombe put Skinner over for a try that went unconverted.
Even then it was Elthamians who looked more likely to snatch victory, but they were more than happy to share the spoils with Plymouth. Albion skipper Herbie Stupple said: “We got what we wanted out of the game in the first half and there was a buzz in the changing room at half-time.
“In the second half we made far too many errors and didn’t get our game management right.”
The draw leaves Plymouth level on points with second-placed Blackheath, but trailing on matches won.