On Saturday we were at home to old rivals Plymouth Albion in our seventh game of the campaign looking to build on the solid performance the week before at Birmingham Moseley. This was always going to be a hard challenge as they had started the season well with 4 wins, 2 losses and were lying fourth in the table. We had trained well in the week and were confident that we could get back to winning ways but it was the visitors who got on the scoreboard first with a well worked converted try within the first three minutes. They followed this up with a second score five minutes later after a break down the narrow side by their left winger putting them 0-14 in the lead within the first ten minutes of the game. Despite this initial set back we were playing good controlled rugby in the right areas of the field and a line out thirty metres out saw Rhys Henderson come off his right wing and touch down in the top left hand corner. Full back Oli Glasse added a penalty shortly after and we were now back in the game 8-14 with most of the half to go. The game was pretty even at this point with both teams looking to build momentum and continuity but it was the Tigers who scored next on the thirty minute mark. A lovely passage of play interlinking forwards and backs saw the ball moved sharply to the right and a brilliant run by winger Rhys Henderson saw him beat three defenders and touch down for his second try. Oli added the conversion and we went into the break 15-14 up and pleased with the first half performance. It has to be said that one of the highlights of this first half was our defence sets where time after time we pushed Plymouth back sometimes for 25 plus phases. We were looking to build a score in the second half especially as we were playing down the slope. We needed to stay in the fight, win the kick battle and come away with points every time we were in their twenty two but we also knew that this would require hard work and concentration for the forty minutes. Our third try came in the 47thminute. Great phase play on the opposition five metre line saw scrum half Matt Sturgess feed a lovely inside pass to No 8 Tom Ailes who crashed over. Oli added the conversion and we know 22-14 in the lead. Unfortunately a yellow card for centre Cam Scanlon shortly after put us down to fourteen players for ten minutes but we managed to keep Plymouth out. A kick down field by scrum half Will Wooton in the 67thminute was kicked on by fly half Charlie Wardle who touched down for our fourth and bonus point try and we were now 29-14 up going into the last thirteen minutes of the game. Plymouth continued to pressure our line but an interception by fly half Charlie saw him race seventy five metres and score his second of the afternoon. Oli again added the conversion and we had extended the lead to 36-14. Four minutes later substitute hooker Adam Mallinson came on and latched onto a catch and drive by the forwards to give us our sixth try of the afternoon. Plymouth did hit back in the last minutes of the game with two tries of their own to give them the losing bonus point but the day belonged to the Tigers with a well deserved 41-26 bonus point win. This was an exceptional performance from the whole squad but special mention for fly half Charlie Wardle who was star man with two tries and a man of the match performance. Next Saturday we are at home to London team Blackheath looking for another big performance so please come down and support the Tigers.
Thanks, Steve Hazz.
