ON the back of some great form and good results at the end of 2012, Gordano travelled to Old Reds full of confidence of returning with a win.

They started strongly and soon had the home scrum under pressure. With a good supply of quick ball, fly-half Aaron French got the backs into the game and looking threatening.

It was disappointing when Old Reds opened the scoring having capitalised on a Gordano handling error to outflank the defence and score the opening try. They then added a penalty to give them a 10 point lead against the run of play.


Gordano felt aggrieved not to get more than a succession of penalties from a number of scrum misdemeanours. Joe Rowsell slotted one to open Gordano’s account.

Flying wing Elliott Hanscombe was next to score, following a great move involving backs and forwards before Hanscombe out sprinted the cover. Old Reds managed another score before half-time to go into the break with a lead of 18- 8.

Gordano still felt that the game was theirs for the taking and started the second half in confident fashion. The referee soon got frustrated with the the home side’s conduct at the breakdown.

Despite their penalty count rising, the anticipated yellow card never came. Two second half tries from captain Fred Young and ex-Reds player Mike Yandall, plus a halfway line penalty from Rowsell, were good enough to secure a losing bonus point, but not the win.

On Saturday, Gordano travel to Minehead.