Nottingham Miss Out on Bonus Point

Nottingham went down to another defeat, this time beaten 22-12 at Plymouth Albion on Friday evening.

As has been the case in recent games their set piece looked solid enough, but Albion were able to nullify any advantage by holding up their driving play.

The home side grabbed the only try of the game early in the second half, while Nottingham, who conceded that try at a time when they were shorthanded following a yellow card for Rupert Cooper, were restricted to four penalties from Matt Jarvis.

His first came ten minutes into the game, and from just inside his own half, to give his side the lead.

Albion had the chance to level almost immediately but Declan Cusack's kick hit the post.

Jarvis doubled the Nottingham lead midway through the first half with another long range effort, but Albion hit back with a couple of penalties from Cusack to level it at six points apiece.

Albion then missed a good chance to get the first try of the game, knocking on just metres short.

The home side finished the first half strongly, with a prolonged attack deep in the visitors' territory.

The Green and Whites defended bravely but the pressure eventually brought a yellow card for Cooper and the resulting penalty saw Albion lead 9-6 at the break.

Centre Heath Stevens then crossed in the corner following more intense pressure from a close range scrum, with Cusack converting to make it 16-6.

Nottingham were fortunate though when a free kick became a penalty following backchat from an Albion forward, Jarvis making it 16-9 with the kick.

Another Cusack penalty restored the ten-point lead, only for Jarvis to cancel out that score with his fourth penalty of the night and again a losing bonus point was within their grasp.

But after Albion had squandered two good opportunities they won a late penalty for Cusack to make it 22-12, and that bonus point was gone.