Fullerians got their season off to a great start with a five try win against Ruislip. It has been some years since Fullerians have played Ruislip but straight away Fullers put their visitors on the back foot. Fullers scrum was dominant throughout and in the early exchanges Fullers were quicker and more physical at the breakdown.

The power of the scrum began to tell as 5 metres out they went for the pushover. However, the scrum wheeled but No8 George Harvey picked up and crashed over for Fullers first try of the season and one of his hat trick on the day.

Fullers started to dictate the game as they spread the ball wide but Ruislip had this all covered. Fullers then used their forwards to suck in the covering defence and then the gaps started to appear out wide. Wing Julian Manieson was on hand to use his footwork and pace to score unopposed for the second of the game. Full back Dan Evans converted.

Ruislip got on the score board when their live wire scrum half tapped and went quickly from a penalty catching Fullers asleep in defence and he found support for the visitors to score under the posts. The extra points were converted for a 12-7 half time score.

The second half Fullers used the wind and kicked for territory to keep their visitors in their 22. The subsequent pressure resulted in debutant flanker Adam Anker kicking through after some poor Ruislip passing the ball bounced kindly for him to gather and then score under the posts. Evans converted for a 19-7 score line.

Ruislip mounted some good pressure from the restart and the home side found themselves two men down very quickly who were sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on and collapsing the maul. However, this spirited Fullers sides defence held firm and denied Ruislip any further points.

In fact when back to the full 15 Fullers fitness started to show and they continued to go through the phases. Harvey added another as he went over from short range after some good work by the forward pack. He went over shortly after as he picked up from the base of the scrum from 2 metres out to make it a hat trick and Fullers fifth on the day.

“You never know how it was going to go in a new league after back to back promotions but we played well at times but still left 14 points out there as we could have been more clinical. The guys gelled well together and I thought our fitness was good today.” commented Fullerians head coach Rich Hoskins.

Team. Wetton (Trybus 65), Horne, Bushell, Boyd (Meddeman 65), South, Anker, Redler, Harvey, Toon, Jacobs (Captain), Manieson (Dollard 70), Voke, Duncan, Williams, Evans.

Man of the Match: George Harvey