HERBIE STUPPLE praised his fellow forwards for helping him claim his first Plymouth Albion hat-trick.

The powerful number eight, who has been at Albion since 2011, scored three times as the city side beat Darlington Mowden Park 24-17 away on Saturday.

“It was my first hat-trick for Albion,” said Stupple. “I don’t think I’ve scored one since I was at college.

“But it was probably down the pack, not really me. I just finished the chances off.”

Albion’s victory in the North East was down to a dominant scrum.

“We shocked ourselves a bit with that first scrum when we ran over them,” said Stupple. “That kind of set a bit of a tone.

“That was a massive confidence booster, as it has been for us all season.

“If you get a good scrum you get to play with better possession.”

Darlington had started the day just four points behind fifth-placed Albion in the table. They could have overtaken them had they won, but as it is now they are seven points behind and Albion are within three of second-placed Hartpury College and just one behind third-placed Blackheath, who they play next.

“It was a huge win on Saturday,” said Stupple. “You look at the table now and things are happening massively for us. It will be exciting to play Blackheath at home in our next game (on March 19). That’s going to be another massive match.”

Albion did have to dig deep against Darlington after going 17-7 down after Stupple was sin-binned for a professional foul as the home side attacked in first half injury-time.

“They (Darlington) could have finished the game off but we managed to dig deep, especially when I got binned,” said Stupple.

“The team defended really well and when I came on I felt I had to try and make up for them getting a try and a penalty while I was off.”