Leeds Tykes couldn’t continue their momentum from last week’s win as they returned home from Plymouth empty-handed, suffering their third loss of 2023, losing 51-12.
Plymouth started the game strongly, as prop Ramaz Rukhadze scored from an early driving maul. Shortly after, Albion scrum-half Jack Oulton broke through the Tykes’ defence opening up an opportunity for his team mate Conor Eastgate to score under the post. The conversion was successful.
Albion’s third try came from another driving maul deep in the away side’s half. Dan Collier broke off the back and through two tackles to score a converted try.
Leeds did have chance to show what they are capable of on the half hour as Junior Nu’u made a break down the middle releasing Tom Williams to score with Charlie Venables converting the try.
The half ended 19-7.
Both sides came out full of energy in the second half. Bavadra and a Plymouth player both leaped for the ball. As they came down, the Plymouth player fell. As he had managed to touch the ball, the Leeds’ wing received a yellow card for the in-air collision.
A man down, Tykes conceded Albion’s fourth try of the game from another driving maul with Harry Wilkinson scoring. The try was converted. Plymouth scored yet again with a try out wide from Setareki Raumakita.
Plymouth began to run away with it with some scrappy play from a scrum opening up Jack Oulton to score shortly followed by a brilliant 50-22 kick allowing yet another driving maul try from Wilkinson.
The travelling side showed that they weren’t giving up as John Okafor scored to bring some positive energy back to the side. However, this wasn’t quite enough as Plymouth’s rampage continued as Kyle Speare scored and Wilkinson completed his hat-trick.
After the match, Jon Callard Director of Rugby, said: “Credit to Plymouth they played well. We didn’t front up and we compounded that with a poor kicking game that put us under huge pressure.
“We talk about values and respect and we didn’t see much of that on arrival for this rescheduled match.
“Drawing a line under that, I was confident with the squad we put out but we made errors and gave ourselves a hard day at the office against a big physical side. It’s a good learning experience.”
51 – 12
(HT 19-7)
Our scorers
