Plymouth Albion RFC V Neath
Saturday 14th August 2004, 6.00pm KO.

MATCH REPORT (from BBC Devon)

Neath (Friendly) 14th Aug 2004 by BBC: Nigel Walrond

PLYMOUTH ALBION 17-8 NEATH (Friendly)
Albion got their pre-season campaign off to a good start with victory in a surprisingly niggly and physical friendly at the Brickfields. Welsh Cup holders Neath provided useful opposition for Albion as they build for the opening of their National Division One campaign. But it was player-coach Graham Dawe's clutch of summer signings that provided most interest to the home crowd. Fly-half Ed Barnes and loose-head prop Altan Ozdemir were the only two new faces included in the starting line-up. But Samoan international No.8 Alfie Tooala and South African duo, scrum-half Hennie Martens and centre Glenn Gelderbloom, all got at least a half to show what they could do, with the giant Samoan looking like he is going to be a huge favourite in Albion colours. Lock Nick Rouse, a summer signing from Manchester, also took his Albion bow, while Dawe also gave a trial to Argentinian international front row forward Federico Cortopasso, who can play at either hooker or prop. However, Dawe refused to be drawn after the game on whether he would be following up his interest in the 28-year-old. Albion led 10-0 after 13 minutes with a try by scrum-half Nigel Cane and a conversion and penalty by Barnes. Neath fly-half James Hook reduced the deficit with a 21st-minute penalty, but Albion hooker Stewart Pearl finished off a rolling maul move with a try in the 34th minute, and Barnes converted for a 17-3 interval lead. The only scoring of a lacklustre second half was a try by Neath centre Mike Jones.