Albion power to the summit with win over Bishop's

PLYMOUTH Albion produced a statement performance at Brickfields on Saturday afternoon as they swept aside Bishop's Stortford 39-17 to move to the summit of National League 1, delivering an emphatic blend of attacking flair and forward power in front of a buoyant home crowd.

- By PABLO CHEEKS

In a contest billed as an important marker in the title race, Albion wasted no time in asserting their authority. From the opening exchanges, the hosts played with pace and precision, immediately placing Bishop’s Stortford under pressure. That early dominance was rewarded inside two minutes when Jenson Boughton crossed for the opening try, charging over the line and carrying plenty of bodies with him. Iwan Jenkins added the extras, setting the tone for what would become a relentless first-half display.

Albion struck again just seven minutes later, and once more it was Boughton who did the damage. A well-worked phase attack created space up the middle, allowing the big man to exploit a narrow gap in the defensive line and crash over for his second of the afternoon. Jenkins remained flawless from the tee, and with just ten minutes played the hosts had surged into a commanding 14-0 lead.

Bishop's Stortford responded well by tightening up defensively and slowing the game at the breakdown, and on 14 minutes centre Thomas Hitchcock powered over following sustained pressure close to the line, though the conversion attempt from Christopher Bolton drifted wide.