GRAHAM DAWE admits it is a boost Plymouth Albion will have influential centre Marc Koteczky available for their crucial clash against Darlington Mowden Park on March 5.

The Australian was sent off against Henley Hawks at Brickfields on Saturday for retaliation during a flare up midway through the first half of the National One match.

Albion had to play for 60 minutes with 14 men but they managed to overcome that disadvantage to win 27-8 and make it 11 wins from their last 12 games.

After the match, Plymouth decided to suspend Koteczky, who had never previously picked up a single card in English rugby, for one-week and an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday night agreed that was sufficient punishment. Koteczky will be available to play again on February 29, with Albion’s next fixture at Darlington on March 5.

Darlington, like Albion, have only lost once since November and sit eight points behind four-placed Plymouth with a game in hand.

“It is certainly good news for the squad building up to the Darlington match that Marc will be available,” said director of rugby Dawe.

“We got a favourable hearing. Marc had never had a card before in English rugby and that obviously helped his case on this occasion.”

Meanwhile, Albion flanker Jarrad Hayler will start for the Royal Navy against Oxford University on Wednesday night at Portsmouth.

Albion’s other Navy player Seti Raumakita is not included in the squad to face Oxford this week but the versatile Fijian, who lives in Redruth, could be involved with Cornwall in the County Championship, alongside the likes of Herbie Stupple, Sam Matavesi, Christian Judge, Rupert Freestone, Matt Shepherd, Jake Murphy, Billy Searle, Robin Wedlake and Jon Dawe.