Albion come from behind to beat Fylde

Plymouth Albion scored three tries in the final seven minutes to complete a remarkable comeback as they came away from Lancashire with a 26-38 victory.

Fylde had led 26-10 at the break thanks to a brace from Scott Rawlings and tries from Oliver Brennand and Alexander Loney with Plymouth’s points coming via Daniel Collier’s score and a penalty from Billy Searle.

The home side looked comfortable for the first 20 minutes of the second period, but after the hour, the game was turned on its head.

Firstly, Michael Stupple dotted down before Fylde pressed the self-destruct button. They gifted Nile Darces his try and were then left helpless as Marc Koteczky and Matthew Shepherd both crossed to complete an unlikely fightback.

After defeat last week to Hull Ionians, Plymouth Albion returned to winning ways and have now won six of their last seven matches, while Fylde have lost six of their nine games at home this season.

But it looked as though Paul Arnold’s men would end their recent run of tough results at Woodlands and after demanding this in the week, he largely got the desired response in the first half as his side raced into an early lead.

Winger Anthony Bingham made the first real break of the game before the ball was recycled to the left where Rawlings waltzed into the corner unopposed to score the opening try after seven minutes.

Plymouth were then presented with a penalty opportunity straight from the restart, but Searle hooked it just wide of the posts in snowy and wintery conditions before the visitors were gifted a way back into this contest.

After looking comfortable in possession, Fylde were stripped of the ball which fell kindly for Plymouth’s Thomas Bedford.

The winger nudged the ball through a crowd of players, but after regaining possession once again, Fylde simply gave it sraight back to Albion as it fell at the feet of Collier who hacked it towards the posts and was quickest to touch down. Searle levelled the scores with the conversion.

It appeared as if Plymouth were growing into the game, but Fylde then started to go through the gears as a well-timed pass landed in the hands of Rawlings who dashed through a gaping hole in the Albion defence to restore the home sides advantage.

Five minutes later, Fylde stayed in charge and extended their lead further when Brennard cut the Plymouth back line open to slide home.

Searle landed a penalty for Plymouth to make it 21-10 on 30 minutes, but it then went from bad to worse for the away side when full-back Ethan Ford was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and with the extra man, Fylde wrapped up the bonus point.

From the resulting penalty after Ford’s dismissal, Fylde decided to go down the blindside from the lineout and in the shape of Loney, they made it 26-10 at the half-time.

The first 20 minutes of the second period was a scrappy and disjointed affair with Plymouth failing to convert a couple of half chances before Stupple powered over after a number of scrums in the Fylde 22.

The away side were now back in contention with the score reading 26-17 when they received a massive slice of luck which was ultimately the turning point in the contest.

Like in the first half, Plymouth launched a kick through the Fylde defence and once again the home side didn’t deal with it properly.

This time it was a miscalculation from fly-half Chris Johnson which meant the ball slipped from underneath him, presenting Darces with the simple task of dotting the ball down to the left of the posts.

Now with just two points in it, the momentum was with Albion and Fylde capitulated.

Firstly, after great work by Collier at the breakdown, Plymouth turned the ball over which allowed Koteczky to glide through the Fylde defence and race away to give the away side the lead for the first time.

And straight from the restart, Plymouth sliced their way through a shell-shocked Fylde team once again as replacement Elliot Bale floated the ball out to the left where Shepherd dived over to ensure Plymouth’s comeback while Fylde were left wondering how they had not won this encounter.

National One

Elsewhere in National One this afternoon, league leaders Richmond could only manage a 21-21 draw away at Coventry which leaves them five points clear at the top of the division while Coventry stay ninth after securing the two points.

Second placed Blackheath had their game postponed away at Darlington Mowden Park due to the ground conditions, but Hartpury College failed to climb about Blackheath as they were beaten 24-14 by Esher who are now just a point behind College in fourth.

Elsewhere in the top half, Ampthill & District made it three straight wins to begin 2016 as they ran in six tries on their way to a 16-38 away win over a struggling Henley Hawks side that are now down to 15^th in the table and five points from safety. Also, Rosslyn Park eased to a 49-0 home win over Hull Ionians.

In the bottom half, Blaydon and Loughborough Students’ game was called off while the bottom two sides, Wharfedale and Cindeford, played out a 26-26 draw in Yorkshire.