Boasting a former Harlequin and Exeter Chief in their team and coached by Albion favourite Gaz Evans, the visiting Okehampton squad will have had high aspirations catching Albion on a short turnaround.
Sadly, for them, this season’s crop are made of stern stuff and, built upon a very solid forward platform, there was only going to be one winner at the Brickfields.
Six tries in total combined with a near faultless performance from the tee by Tom Putt ensured a 40 -0 victory that shows the already increasing strength of Coach Damien Welch charges…
With the short turnaround, this was always going to be a tricky fixture for the Albion squad and, debut for a few new signings along with a few trialists in the mix, cohesion was tough to find at times. Nonetheless early tries (in consecutive games) from Phil Jones and Alex Ducker ensured an early 14-0 buffer that was never going to be in danger of being overturned.
To their credit, Okehampton stuck to the task manfully and must be hugely praised for taking the fixture at Albion on short notice. Indeed, the Oke enjoyed a fair bit of play midway through the second half that certainly tested the defensive shape of Albion.
Further tries from Henry Clement, Rhys Bartlett, Torrin Clarke and impressive Georgian prop, Ramaz Rukhadze ensured a strong close to the game before a glut of replacements caused the last ten minutes to lose a bit of shape.
Just as the coaches would be looking to prepare for the last pre-season game on the 21st against Exeter University, a nasty looking injury to the notable Rhys Bartlett caused an abrupt end to the game.
With the university game the last hit out before the league proper, entry at £5 per person and happy hour from 1:00-2:00 pm, this will be the last chance to get a big day out at the Brickfields before the season proper.
We hope you can join us!
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