Sedgley Park 21, Plymouth Albion 32: WELCOMING the Tigers to National One were Albion's team of expensive full-time professionals who, with relegated Rotherham facing an uncertain future, are regarded as strong contenders for the National One title and promotion to the Zurich Premiership.

With that in mind, and the fact that first choice scrum-half Dave McCormack was nursing a broken arm, new fullback Danny McGee a broken leg, and last season's fullback Arno de Jager a damaged ankle, Park put on a gutsy, determined show in the circumstances.

The fact Plymouth deserved to win was never in doubt, but the level of performance Sedgley were able to produce may well have surprised a number of onlookers.

Big and powerful, Albion's game plan was simple: maul and retain possession until Sedgley wilted.

Wilt Park did not, suffer from a number of adverse penalty decisions as they fought to halt the Devon juggernaut, they did.

The visitors opened their account on 11 minutes when from a successful line-out the ball was fed to winger James Pritchard, who sprinted 45 metres to touchdown, before adding the conversion.

Perversley, Sedgley then began to see some ball and begin to apply pressure themselves, highlighting Plymouth's lack of pace and despite having centre Ian Voortman yellow-carded for a high tackle on Pritchard

A chip-kick on half-way turned the Plymouth defence and new singing Richard Welding collected the ball to sprint in for his and Park's first try, converted by another new summer signing, Blair Feeney.

The Kiwi former Super 12 stand-off then added two successful penalties in the ensuing 10 minutes to put Sedgley into a 13-7 lead, before Pritchard kicked a penalty of his own to make it 13-10 to the home side at half-time.

But disaster struck Sedgley within two minutes of the re-start.

One of Albion's new signings, former Orrell back-rower Alfie Tooala romped in under the posts after Sedgley failed to win a line-out and Pritchard added the conversion to make it 17-10 to the visitors.

With their noses in front Plymouth reverted to their strengths and for 20 minutes played a war of forward attrition.

Maul after boring maul followed as they gained territorial advantage but at an alarmingly slow rate.

Sedgley held on but conceded another penalty and from the resulting line-out the ball was fumbled, and second row Perry went over from five metres to extend Plymouth's lead to 22-13.

Feeney and Pritchard then exchanged penalties before a brilliant Sedgley cross-field move put Voortman through for a try on on 76 minutes.

Trailing their illustrious visitors by just four points, Sedgley suddenly had an opportunity to at least claim one match point for getting to within seven points of their opponents, if not actually beat them.

But rugby can be a cruel game and three more penalties for Albion, followed by another line-out catch and drive saw Plymouth grab another try six minutes into injury time through Stuart Pearl, which, when converted by Pritchard, robbed a brave Sedgley of the opportunity to emerge with something tangible from the game.

Plymouth are unlikely to win many friends playing the style of dour forward rugby they do, while on this performance Sedgley showed they have what it takes to survive if not prosper at this level.

Impressing were young scrum-half Chris Wilkinson, winger Welding, stand-off Feeney and back rowers Richard Senior and James Ponton.

The next time Plymouth are likely to meet such a determined defence is on Monday January 3 - when Sedgley visit the Bricksfield Recreation Ground, no doubt looking for revenge!