Plymouth prove too strong for Sheffield
Plymouth Albion RFC 47 – 5 Sheffield RUFC
After their victory over Leeds Tykes last weekend, Sheffield travelled to Devon to face league leaders Plymouth Albion. Plymouth entered the fixture having secured two away wins on the road to top the table ahead of Sale FC. The Sheffield team remained largely unchanged, but was without Aaron Lonsdale and Cuchulain Livingstone, who was injured against Leeds. Harry Chubb made his debut on the wing in place of Livingstone, while Alex Keeton was named on the bench. The team travelled on Friday evening and continued to Plymouth on Saturday morning.
Plymouth kicked off, and Sheffield did not retain possession. Albion winger Pita Ratukadreu gathered the loose ball and advanced toward the Sheffield try line before passing to number eight Sam Daly, who scored to the left of the posts. Fullback Francisco Diaz Dart converted, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead after less than a minute. Sheffield restarted and were awarded a penalty, followed by a second at a lineout. However, the referee reversed the decision for an action by the Sheffield forwards, a call the official later admitted was incorrect. Plymouth took a lineout, from which second row Huw Taylor broke through the Sheffield defence to touch down wide on the left. Diaz Dart converted, increasing the advantage to 14-0 after six minutes.
Sheffield improved and made breaks through the Albion defence, aided when flanker Jarrard Hayler received a yellow card on seven minutes. Sheffield secured a lineout five metres out and formed a driving maul. The maul collapsed, and despite several Albion players being on the ground, the referee awarded a scrum to Plymouth. Albion kicked to touch, stole Sheffield’s subsequent lineout ball, and advanced through penalties to a lineout on Sheffield’s five-metre line. Albion's pack pushed forward, allowing Daly to score his second try. Diaz Dart converted, moving the score to 21-0 after 16 minutes.
Sheffield resisted further pressure until the 26th minute, when Daly crossed for his hat-trick try. Diaz Dart converted again to take the lead to 28-0. Sheffield held Plymouth scoreless for the remainder of the half.
After the break, Daly scored his fourth try and Albion's fifth. Diaz Dart converted, extending the lead to 35-0 after 44 minutes. Sheffield countered through interplay between Matty Drennan and Chris Hooper, but Hooper sustained a torn hamstring with the line open, and the final pass went into touch. Five minutes later, fly-half Harrison Legg scored Albion's sixth try under the posts. Diaz Dart converted, making it 42-0.
Sheffield held firm into the fourth quarter, where play from the pack enabled centre Barney Goatley to score a try wide on the right in the 66th minute. Callum Posa’s conversion drifted to the left of the posts. In the seventy-first minute, Albion’s Cameron Doak scored close to the posts on the right. Diaz Dart’s conversion hit the left upright and bounced out, leaving the score at 47-5. Dom Parson received a yellow card on 74 minutes, but Sheffield’s 14 players prevented further scoring until the conclusion of the match.
Plymouth Albion RFC: 1: James Kenny 2: Harry Wilkinson; 3 Cameron Doak; 4: Huw Taylor; 5: Morgan Eames; 6: Jake Clemson; 7: Jarrard Hayler; 8: Sam Daly. 15: Francisco Diaz Dart; 14: Pita Ratukadreu; 13 Oscar Stewart; 12: Archie Hill; 11: Noah Fenton; 10 Harrison Legg; 9: Jack Oulton. Replacements: – 16: Rhys Williams; 17: Angus Hodges; 18: Daniel Pullinger-Ham; 19: Morgan Stone; 20: Henry Sellick.
Sheffield RUFC: 15. George Castledine; 14. Harry Chubb; 13. Barney Goatley; 12. Will Smith; 11. Chris Hooper; 10. Callum Posa ; 9. Elliot Fisher; 1. Ben Whitney; 2. Will Archer; 18. George Rogers; 19. Josh Kent; 5. Dom Parsons; 6. Alex Fawdry; 7. Will Henshaw; 8. Zak Poole; 16. Rhodri Campbell; 17. Alex Reid; 25. Alex Keeton; 22. Felix Crapper ● 20. Matty Drennan
Match Officials: Referee: Adam Wookey Assistant Referees: Andrew Green; Rob Lowe. Referee Assessor: Peter Farrell