Plymouth Albion continued their remarkable run of form, extending their winning streak to ten matches with a hard-fought victory over second-placed Rotherham.
The win avenged their narrow defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Head coach Ryan Lamb was thrilled with his side’s performance and acknowledged the effort put in by Rotherham during what was a grueling 80 minutes for both teams.
Plymouth Albion 23-20 Rotherham Titans
“Unbelievable. I thought the game was really tight. Fair play to Rotherham—they’re very good at what they do and are a solid, well-drilled team. They put us under a lot of pressure, but I thought we really deserved that win.
“I felt like we were in control for most of the game. A few decisions didn’t go our way, which put us under pressure, but every player from 1 to 20 was fantastic. This sets us up well for a big game next week.”
The atmosphere at Brickfields was electric as Albion edged another crucial win, and Lamb was quick to praise the passionate home support.
“It’s unreal. Some might think it’s just because we’ve won 10 in a row, but these fans are here every week. The atmosphere, especially in those final ten minutes, was absolutely rocking.
“We’re in a great run of form, but we need to stay grounded because next week brings another massive challenge.”
The opening stages were a tense affair, with neither team able to break the deadlock until the 17th minute when Tom Putt slotted a penalty—his second attempt of the afternoon—after a series of high tackles from Rotherham.
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That score sparked the game into life. Just three minutes later, Rotherham responded through hooker Morgan Venness, who collected his own throw at the back of a maul five meters from the try line and powered over. The missed conversion left the visitors with a narrow 3-5 lead.
Minutes later, Rotherham struck again. A loose pass from Archie Hill was intercepted by Lloyd Hayes, who quickly offloaded to Callum Bustin. The powerful number eight bulldozed his way from halfway to the try line, extending Rotherham’s lead. This time, the conversion was good, making it 3-12 after 23 minutes.
Albion refused to back down. From a quick tap-and-go by Ben Moa after a collapsed scrum, Jack Oulton spread the ball wide to Archie Hill, who weaved through multiple defenders to dive over in the corner—making amends for his earlier intercepted pass. Putt’s successful conversion cut the deficit to just two points.
As the first half neared its end, Albion took advantage of Rotherham’s ill-discipline. A well-placed kick forced the visitors into their own territory, and Charles Capps was penalized for a no-arms tackle. Putt stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty, giving Albion a slender one-point lead at halftime.
The Second Half: Albion Hold Their Nerve
Rotherham quickly regained the lead at the start of the second half, as Lloyd Hayes converted a penalty after Albion were penalized in the scrum.
The home side responded brilliantly, and after a series of Rotherham infringements and missed lineout opportunities, Albion capitalized deep in opposition territory. Harry Wilkinson threw into the lineout before latching onto the back of a driving maul and crashing over the line. Although Putt’s conversion attempt was off target, Albion now held a three-point advantage.
The game’s turning point came with 23 minutes remaining when Rotherham’s captain received his second yellow card of the afternoon—both for high tackles—leaving his side down to 14 men for the remainder of the match.
With the extra man, Albion turned the screw. After strong carries from Archie Hill, Rhys Williams, and Dan Pullinger, they camped inside Rotherham’s 22 before Ethan Burger powered over from close range to push the lead to eight points with ten minutes to play.
Rotherham kept fighting and found a late response when Ronnie Du Randt finished off a sweeping move to score in the corner, setting up a tense final few minutes. However, the missed conversion proved costly, and Albion held on to secure a three-point victory.
As the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted across Brickfields. The win propelled Albion into fourth place with two massive fixtures ahead to round off March—a trip to Richmond next weekend followed by a home clash against Rosslyn Park. Having already taken down two top-four opponents this month, another two victories could propel Albion firmly into the promotion race.
Player of the Match: Ethan Burger
Ethan Burger earned Player of the Match honors for his outstanding contributions on both sides of the ball, capped off by his first try for Plymouth Albion.
Ryan Lamb summed up the team’s mindset moving forward:
“We controlled the game for the most part, and every player from 1 to 20 was outstanding. The atmosphere was electric. Now it’s time to stay grounded and focus on next week.”
Next Home Match at Brickfields!
The action at Brickfields doesn’t stop here! Albion’s next home game is set to be a massive Saturday afternoon showdown on March 22nd as we take on Rosslyn Park.
This isn’t just any game—it’s a special day on and off the pitch as we celebrate St Luke’s Men’s Day Out. This fixture always draws a huge crowd, and with Albion in red-hot form, it promises to be an unmissable occasion.
Secure your tickets now at PlymouthAlbion.com and be part of the action! With the atmosphere at Brickfields at its absolute best in recent weeks, early booking is advised. Don’t miss your chance to witness another thrilling night of rugby!
Jack Sanderson
Photos ALMC Photography
