A vital 5 point win; nothing between these teams

In the first 10 minutes of the game an Albanians attack resulted in a 22 drop-out then Barnes opted to kick a long-range penalty that was unsuccessful. After that the visitors were intercepted by wing Hallett who ran to the line after 11 minutes. Fly-half Butler added.

The home team secured the restart and soon worked their way into the other half where the opposition forced an error. From the scrum Barnes soon kicked ahead; Albanians dropped the ball for another scrum, this time at their 22. Under pressure the ball came out the side and the home team got it, only to be penalised. The kick took Barnes to 12 metres out and from the line-out they kept the ball close for 6 phases to get another penalty 8 metres out. They chose to have a scrum and recycled close from that 7 times for lock Collins to get over near the posts after 19 minutes. Fly-half Strang added.

The visitors returned the restart with an up-and-under; Albanians got the ball and kept it for 6 phases, half of them going wide before kicking through the defence. They regained from another Barnes' high kick then had a kick charged down; they recovered and chipped through again. This resulted in defensive scrum for the visitors 11 metres out; they advance then soon used a high kick that the opposition secured before getting a penalty at halfway. They kicked to just inside the 22; Barnes offered no defence to the drive from the line-out then won a turnover and cleared to touch at their halfway line. They stole the line-out then got a put-in immediately after. They had the ball for 3 close phases before being penalised 5 metres back. Albanians kicked for a line-out 18 metres out but had another stolen. The ball was cleared to touch 6 metres from halfway. The home team advanced at centre after the line-out then recycled 4 more times before regaining a kick ahead then chipped over the defence to the line. The defence secured for a 22 drop-out. Next Albanians varied 5 phases to get a penalty 15 metres into the visitors' half and ran the ball with 7 phases to get to the line. Four recycles resulted in another penalty and a yellow card. The home team chose a scrum that resulted in a penalty try after 33 minutes.

Albanians used an up-and-under after the long restart; Barnes got the ball, recovering from their error, and after some recycling used another Garryowen. The home team secured from that and had the ball for 4 phases before an error gave their opponents a scrum 11 metres past halfway. From Barnes they broke blind and after one recycle broke through; a couple of passes took them close to the line. There after 3 recycles an intercept attempt by Albanians resulted in a second penalty try and another yellow card a minute before halftime and the scores level.

The visitors secured the second half restart then regained from their up-and-under; they soon used another longer one. Albanians got this and recycled twice to get a penalty 12 metres back inside their half. They ran this well before losing possession; Barnes kicked long to touch to 12 metres from their opponents' line. Albanians advanced close from their line-out then used an up-and-under that Barnes got but soon dropped. The home team got the ball back and ran wide several times in 7 phases before being turned over. The visitors used an up-and-under that the opposition secured before going wide again. Their dropped ball resulted in a penalty against them near halfway. The kick took Barnes to 11 metres out and from there their pack drove to the line where they were held up. The visitors got the ball out of the scrum under pressure and recycled mostly close 15 times before no. 8 Harbison got over wide out before 12 minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful.

The visitors soon kicked back long the high restart; Albanians ran back with 3 phases to get a penalty 4 metres inside their half. The kick gained 18 metres then the line-out was thrown not-straight. Albanians' pressure gained them a penalty in the scrum and chose to have another. That resulted in another penalty which they ran to get a third 29 metres out. The kick took them to 7 metres out and their pack drove for the line then the ball was released wide to the blind side for centre Bednall to touch down wide out at 15 minutes. The conversion was wide and the scores were level again.

The home team ran back the long restart to get a penalty at their 10 metre line. The kick gained 20 metres but the line-out was stolen. The visitors recycled 3 times before they were penalised at halfway. Albanians chose a scrum but this time it was they who were penalised. The kick took Barnes to the 22 and from the line-out their pack first set up a drive. They advanced then when that went down they advanced a bit more recycling close twice then as if from a training ground move replacement three-quarter Scott, on for an injured forward, was put through a hole to the posts at 23 minutes. The fly-half added.

Albanians regained from their high restart and ran wide twice before being penalised back 5 metres inside their half. The kick took the visitors to the 22 where their line-out was thrown not-straight. From their scrum they broke out starting with a no. 8 pickup then an excellent three-quarter move going wide 3 times and finishing with ball through the hands for centre Defoe to go over wide out before the half hour. The conversion just missed.

The home team secured the restart and went wide with their fullback in the line breaking through. They went wide twice more in five phases before being penalised near halfway. The kick took Barnes to their line-out just inside the 22 and from it the ball was kept close to get another penalty 17 metres out that was kicked for another line-out almost 5 metres out. Again the ball was kept close then Albanians forced an error to get a put-in 5 metres out. From that they broke out recycling 7 times, 3 of which wide, before being forced into touch 4 metres past halfway. The line-out wasn't secured and resulted in another for the home team 3 metres back. Albanians set for a drive to which the opposition offered no resistance; they then went wide and backwards before being turned over. Barnes kept the ball close for 4 phases before kicking out at the whistle.

Dry, overcast, windy & cool, the pitch softish under floodlights.