GRAHAM DAWE was delighted with his team’s support play against Henley Hawks at Dry Leas on Saturday.
Albion claimed a third consecutive bonus point win with a 36-3 success to move up to seventh in the National One table.
All Plymouth’s tries came in a sensational first half display, where the visitors’ backs looked like they could score every time they got the ball. Fly-half Billy Searle (2), wingers Tom Bedford and Ethan Ford and full-back Tom Putt all crossed the whitewash.
“They certainly capitalised on turnovers, but also they supported each other,” said director of rugby Dawe. “The key was the eagerness to support the ball carrier – that’s something we’ve talked about and it’s good to see it come to fruition.”
Albion had the bonus point for scoring four tries in the bag after just 16 minutes at Dry Leas.
“We were delighted to get the fourth try so early on,” said Dawe. “You don’t expect that, but we won an important toss and Billy Searle kept the pressure on their back three with his kick game and our defensive line-out went well as well.
“If you get chances you’ve got to take them as you don’t know if they will come again.”
Albion could only manage a single Putt penalty second half but that did not disappoint Dawe.
“In any game of rugby you should not use the word disappointment,” said the Albion boss. “It is what it is. You work hard for each other and you can’t always guarantee it pans out the way you want it to pan out.
“It was a very stop-start second half. They (Henley) wanted to try and upset our rhythm and they fronted up very well defensively and carried hard around the fringes. They have got something about them.”
Henley dominated territory second half but could not score a try and Dawe was delighted his side kept their try line intact for the first time this season.
“It is very important to keep a zero in terms of tries conceded,” said Dawe. “They (Henley) did cross the line twice but both times illegally and got penalised.”
Albion have now picked up a maximum 15 points from their last three games against Henley, Cinderford and Blaydon.
“You have to enjoy wins,” said Dawe. “But we now have to sit down and prepare for next weekend.”
Dawe was also pleased to see so many Albion fans at Dry Leas.
“It was lovely to see a couple of bus load of supporters. They made a lot of noise as well,” he said.