This was more like it. Yes, it was another loss but this was a performance with guts and determination at the home of one of the top three clubs in the table. Happily, OAs did not look in any way out of their depth and, if this is the yardstick which measures the rest of the season a strong position in this unpredictable league will result.

Again the scrum stood up well all afternoon and the lineout fared better than of late though still needing a bit more precision. Defence and broken field play were mostly strong and the error count was in a more manageable sector. Much can be taken from this effort and confidence should be high so long as these standards are maintained.

Taunton hooker Chris Francis opened the scoring with a catch and drive after nine minutes and Gary Kingdom converted. Seven minutes later Dan Watt succeeded with a penalty and for the next quarter hour, the visitors enjoyed territorial advantage. It wasn’t a surprise when right wing Mike Hogan followed up an enterprising kick ahead, scoring with something to spare. Watt, enjoying his fiftieth cap, was unlucky with the conversion.

And so it stayed for the next half hour. Position and possession switched from side to side but it seemed Albanians might just hold onto the slenderest of leads. It was five minutes from no side when Kingdom placed the ball some thirty-five metres out from the OA posts and his resultant penalty produced a huge outpouring of relief from the large crowd.

Brian Quinn,

Press & Publicity