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Flawless James Arlidge inspires Nottingham to victory

Nottingham Rugby Club

James Arlidge's flawless kicking display helped Nottingham secure a 37-16 bonus-point victory over Plymouth Albion at Meadow Lane on Sunday.

Tom Armes' first try for the Green & Whites set Glenn Delaney's men on their way and winger David Jackson added a second just before half-time.

Albion did breach Nottingham's defence when Cameron Mitchell went over.

But late tries from John Johnstone and Ian Kench - and 17 points from the boot of Arlidge - ensured a home win.

Fly-half Arlidge kicked 17 points out of 17, earning him his second man-of-the-match display in as many home games.

Plymouth opened the scoring after only two minutes, a penalty coolly converted by number ten Alex Davies.

Nottingham responded six minutes later as centre Andrew Forsyth broke the gain line and set Armes away for a straightforward score. Arlidge added the extra two points.

After successful penalties from both number tens, Jackson produced a moment of genius.

On the 22-yard line, he dramatically changed his pace and broke two tackles and despite further attention from two more Plymouth players, he went over for the home team's second try.

Arlidge converted once more but another penalty from Davies gave the away team a lifeline going into the break, Nottingham leading 17-9.

A couple of penalties from Arlidge, the second after debutant Sione Kalamfoni had been on the wrong end of a sin-bin tackle from Plymouth's Tyler Hotson, saw Nottingham cruising at 23-9.

But the sin-binning of scrum-half Tim Usasz then gave Plymouth the numerical advantage, which they made the most of as Cameron Mitchell went over after several scrums and Davies converted to bring the away team to within one converted try.

Albion pushed for an equalising score, but an 80-metre interception try from John Johnstone and another Arlidge conversion put Nottingham 30-16 up and in control.

The home team sensed the bonus-point victory, and in the dying seconds it came via second row Ian Kench who went over in the corner.

Arlidge was faced with his toughest kick of the day, but duly put it between the posts to seal the win in front of a crowd of 2,349.



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see also
Nottingham ease to away victory
06 Sep 10 |  Rugby Union


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