Plymouth Albion v Northampton Saints

It seemed strange getting ready for the game this morning and not loading up the camera bag, but making sure I'd got pen and paper to hand. This is the first report I've written in nearly two years, a self-imposed retirement as I prefer to concentrate on photography at matches. However, a combination of a lack of others willing and a "high moisture vertical displacement incident" involving the camera at Camborne (OK, it got wet and I dropped it) means I'm back.

That last report was a March 2006 victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park, about as far away from Brickfields as you can get. The camera, by the way, is still sitting on my desk awaiting collection by the insurance company, so I won't be taking any pictures until the Doncaster Cup game at the earliest.

Saints went into the game on a 19 match unbeaten run, returning to the South West a week after a 15-3 Cup win at the Cornish Pirates. After an impeccable minutes silence for ex-Albion committee man Claude Harris, Saints kicked off with the swirling wind at their backs towards the clubhouse end. An early lineout was lost, but this was not to be a bad omen for the rest of the game.

Albion had an early chance to open the scoring with a lineout on the Saints 5m line, but it came to nothing. Ten minutes in saw the first change, Diggin as a blood replacement for Myler. The first serious Saints attack saw Spencer chip through the defence and James Downey fall on the ball over the line. With no Myler Cap'n Bruce slotted the extras from in front of the post, 7-0 after 20 minutes.

Tempers flared for the only time in the game a few minutes later, after Saints were penalised at a maul in their own half. Nothing was given by the referee, and moments later Myler returned, with his head strapped up. A scrum on the Albion 22 presented Saints with a penalty advantage, which Spencer eschewed in favour of a left-footed drop goal. 10-0 with 31 minutes on the clock.

Albion had the best of the next few minutes, along the way Ashton collected another yellow card for an incident in a tackle - he may be due a ban soon. This helped to spur Albion on, and as the first half moved into injury time a rolling maul containing at least two-thirds of the home team drove Ed Lewsey over, with Laidlaw unable to convert it left Albion back in the game at 10-5.

With a large chunk of time added on for various minor injuries, both sides still had a chance to make the last score of the half count. The Saints pressure finally paid dividends in the 8th minute of time lost; a pressure move involving a quick flick offload by Dylan Hartley put Bruce over in the corner. Myler missed a tricky conversion but this left Saints 17-5 up at half time.

Brickfields is a cracking ground, (aside from the music being played at every stoppage in a "you must be entertained for every second" manner) and could easily be developed to Premiership standards by extending the well designed raised terracing. The vast majority of the fans were delightful.

However, one man (I'm not sure which team he claimed to support) saw fit to throw his half-time pastie at Chris Ashton just after the break. This was quite frankly disgusting, and I can only hope his details were noted and he was ejected from the ground when pointed out to a nearby steward. Chris Budgen, acting as waterboy on that side of the pitch, was either eyeing up the pastie remnants - or the ensuing flock of gulls - as a tasty snack.

Saints were inspired in the second half, an early attack causing an Albion defender to touch down in-goal for a 5m scrum. The Saints then had their usual post-break nap; fumbling and bumbling themselves back into their own half. This gave Albion an inspiration, and they soon came within inches of scoring - adjudged to be held up by the referee.

From a 5m lineout, even a 14 man rolling maul (the lone absentee was winger Nick Sestaret) was held out. Thi9s gave time for Soane Tonga'uiha to make his entrance, and he made an almost immediate impact. One of his trademark barging runs through the defence, playing his part in an attacking move which sent part-time full back Steven Myler in at the corner. Missing the conversion left Saints 20-5 up and 22 minutes plus injury time to get a bonus point.

More Saints replacements followed, as Sharky and Easter replaced Howard and Tupai respectively. Sharky and Howard are two very different styles of scrum half, with Sharky's darting runs and Howard's dive passes (sometimes he even lets go of the ball, as at one point he flung a pass out and still had the pill in his sticky mitts).

Carlos Spencer, at his imperious best, sent Ashton away for the clincher on 62 minutes.  A chorus of "21 today" came from the terrace, as Ashton clocked up that many tries, some two months before he reaches the age milestone. A difficult conversion from wide out was slotted by Myler, and the score was 27-5.

More changes - this time, Lewitt replaced Fox and Diggin replaced Myler again, Bruce returning to full back. Dylan, nursing a leg injury, decided a grubber kick through the defence which was pretty much perfect. He was then replaced by Joe Gray on 67 minutes.

Carlos then decided that he'd continue the role reversal, by taking a quick lineout. However he did this by kicking the ball back into play rather than the more orthodox throwing method. This was spotted by referee Dale Newitt, despite protests from the former All Black. The last Saints substitution was made, Phil Hoy replacing Matt Lord.

The Saints side in this later period of the match were clinical, nothing like the team that started the match. Albion had no answer in the later stages. Digger broke through two tackles in a mighty run through the defence. Tiny made another barging move soon afterwards, offloading to Downey for his second and Saints fifth. An easy conversion for Reihana and the lead was now insurmountable, 34-5 and only 5 minutes plus injury time to go.

Saints extended the lead some three minutes later, Carlos showing his fancy footwork by dribbling round the defence then hacking on for a superb individual score. The conversion from wide out was missed by Bruce. Injury time brought the scoreline to 39-5.

The final move of the game, and Saints scored their magnificent seventh. Captain Bruce was unable to convert his won try however. Final score was 44-5, and the 6,721 saw a Saints team dominating the final half hour. The mastermind of this, Mr Mercurial himself, and my man of the match beyond a doubt, Carlos Spencer.