Saracens star helps Old Albanian to crucial victory

Neil Metcalfe

Published: 10:00 AM January 18, 2018 Updated: 3:02 PM November 1, 2020

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Max Malins in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon. - Credit: Archant

The return of Max Malins helped Old Albanian Rugby Club to a well-deserved and potentially vital 50-28 victory over Hull Ionians in National One.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Max Malins in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon. - Credit: Archant

The Saracens and England U20 fly-half strutted his stuff at Woollams two seasons ago and has retained his registration with the club.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Reuben Bird-Tulloch in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

And his distribution and acceleration caused havoc for the visiting East Yorkshiremen.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Jason Billows in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

Mind the sheer strength and speed of winger Segun Oluwadurotimi was equally as impressive although both his and Malins’ performance would have been wasted were it not for the forwards had not provided decent possession.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Nick Foster in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon. - Credit: Archant

And for the most part they did just that.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Reuben Bird-Tulloch in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

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For certainly half of this entertaining match OAs were able to contain and occasionally overwhelm game opponents.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Nick Foster in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon. - Credit: Archant

But there were times in the early second half when even the result seemed in question.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Reuben Bird-Tulloch in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

Those lax times, particularly either side of half-time, found the home defence wanting and Hull made hay, scoring 28 points to just seven in reply.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Tom Bednall in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

Even though two of the Hull tries were of the penalty version it speaks much of the strength the visitors were able to exert on an Albanian side that appeared to be out of sight in the first half hour.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Reuben Bird-Tulloch in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

But while the visitors will be unhappy with the defeat, they will be pleased to have got a priceless league point in the process.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Reuben Bird-Tulloch in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

However, Albanian were certainly delighted to record their first win in this new year against a team sharing their struggles at the bottom end of the table.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Tom Bednall in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant

The result leaves OAs second from bottom but now just one point behind Hull and five behind Loughborough Students and safety.

Old Albanians v Hull Ionians - Tadgh McElroy in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: Karyn Haddon. - Credit: Archant

They will want to review their precision but it has been a while since Woollams has seen seven home tries and this can be seen as good preparation for the trip to Birmingham Moseley on Saturday.