There are clear signs that summer is drawing to a close.

The series of pre-season matches is in full swing at The Brickfields, 

home of Plymouth Albion Rugby Club, as they prepare for the season's start on 1st September.

 They play at the 3rd level of the English National Rugby's .league structure

 and they have ambitions to win promotion this year to level 2.

 Plymouth Albion (in white) held their own in the aerial battle 

.

Rugby in the mud is an acquired taste

for both players and spectators.

Girl Power

The Plymouth Albion Ladies are in the cherry and white shirts.

A "Top of the Table" clash

A great game, between the top two clubs in the National Division One,

 brought the first half of the season to a close, here in the city last Saturday .

Plymouth Albion, in white, narrowly lost 24pts. to 27pts. against Harpbury College, 

the current league leaders, in this hard fought encounter.

A great break, 25 metres to go, with plenty of support

and our defence (in Red)  desperately trying to catch up.

However it all came right by the end; a much needed home win for Plymouth Albion.

The new season started on Saturday with a win.

Following our relegation, at the end of last season, from level 2 to level 3 of English Rugby, this was the first league game for the club's new squad of youngsters, most of whom are stepping up from level 4 clubs.

Plymouth Albion Rugby Club, all in red, earned a well deserved win against the experienced Richmond team from London.

Sports Nutrition

This dedicated supporter clearly takes "Pre-event Carbohydrate-Loading" very seriously.

Practice Makes Perfect.

Straight off the training ground.

Accurate throw in
Well timed jump  
Clean catch          

Quick and accurate feed back to scrum half

Safe catch by scrum half

Quick, accurate feed out by scrum half 

   to get the backs moving                         

The Balancing Act.

Half time refreshment to help keep up the spirits of the loyal supporters of 

Plymouth Albion Rugby Club as the team struggles to avoid relegation.

Can you spot the substitute who has just come onto the field?

The weather on Saturday was atrocious. 

 Torrential showers of rain, coupled with a wind which veered unpredictably 

from howling gale to dead calm, made playing conditions very difficult.

But Plymouth Albion's determined fight to avoid relegation was rewarded with a well deserved win.

Saturday afternoon in the sun.

"Rugby is a good occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the centre of the city."

                                                                                                             Oscar Wilde

Keeping their eye on the ball.

Yesterday Plymouth Albion  (in red) played against Hartpury College 

in a pre season friendly match, as both prepare for the start of their league programmes in September.

I think the Albion coaching staff have quite few problems to address.

Simple Pleasures in the Springtime Sunshine (6)

Supporting my team, Plymouth Albion, in their last home rugby game of the season.

Unfortunately we lost again.

Local Derby

Yesterday was the home leg of this year's  "Local Derby" rugby matches 

between Plymouth Albion (in white) and the Cornish Pirates (red), from Penzance in Cornwall.

The Pirates have won the last ten encounters, and made no mistakes today, beating us 26pts to 20

THe juniors' match, at half time, was equally exciting.

A Game of Two Halves.

Friday night saw the first home game of the new season 

for Plymouth Albion, the city's professional rugby team,

when they played Moseley Rugby Club, from Birmingham.

In the first half Albion (in white and red) dominated and the half-time score was

Plymouth Albion 31 pts - Moseley 13 pts

However, Moseley (blue and white) came out fighting and took the honours for the second half.

Full Time Score

Plymouth Albion 34 pts - Moseley 34 pts 

A great game if you had no partisan interest, but a nail biting last five minutes for home supporters.

Ladies who leap

Line-out action from a recent home game featuring 

Plymouth Albion Ladies Rugby Team (green, white & red)

The Field of Dreams

This is Brickfields, the home of Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club,

the city's professional team which plays at the 2nd level of English rugby.

This season has been something of a nightmare. They ended the regular season in the bottom four and thus entered the relegation play-offs. However they have escaped the drop, so all the dreams will be dusted off for the start of the new season in September.