The eight games between the clubs often produced heroic Gensians performances, but that was not the case when the boys in blue made their initial visit to Kent in 1927.

Gensians, then Old Redingensians, fielded a weakened line-up, containing seven reserves and not surprisingly went down 13-0.

They were unable to adjust to the muddy conditions, which contrasted with the usually firmer surface of their own Gosbrook Road, Caversham ground. The visitors were further hampered with being a man short in the pack until just before half-time.

There was a better performance the following year when ORs held the Kent side to a scrappy 3-3 draw at Emmer Green. The game was spoilt by a high wind and greasy ball and the Berkshire men left it late to recover from a half-time deficit. Mason scrambled over in the final minutes as OR forward rushes and defence earned praise.

In 1929 ORs raced to a blistering 11-0 lead at Emmer Green after just a quarter of an hour thanks to tries from Crick and Stephens (2) plus a conversion from skipper Kynaston. Then it was all OEs until a Nicker try made the game safe late on to clinch a 14-8 victory.

An outstanding second-half display earned ORs a 11-8 win at Mottingham the following winter. The game began with drizzle followed by rain and snow and the visitors trailed 8-0 at the break.

ORs, facing the elements in the second half, made no attempt to handle and just hacked the ball forward. The tactics worked admirably with second row Huggins grabbing two tries and Denton contributing a touchdown and conversion.

There was a gap of two years before ORs travelled to Elthamians again. In a ding-dong struggle they deserved more than an 8-0 reverse. But after a scoreless first half, injured centre Carson was a passenger, limiting their chances.

In the autumn of 1933 a remarkable drop goal – then worth four points - from scrum-half Ball gave ORs a 7-4 home win against OEs. Ball, running across field, swivelled round and from a difficult angle landed a superb kick. Once again ORs were down to 14 men and struggled after a Carson try had given them the lead.

Three years later, 13-man Gensians battled manfully at Elthamians after car trouble meant Messer and Stokes were stranded on their way to the ground. The visitors went down 16-12, but a Dawson penalty and Davies try had kept them in the hunt 6-6 at the interval.

ORs were having the game of their lives and Mason and Sage crossed for a 12-6 advantage before numbers told in the end.

The final game between the clubs, again away, took place ten months before the outbreak of World War II resulting in a rousing 23-6 victory for ORs. Stephens, Messer, Wilson and Sizer all touched down, Barnes landed two penalties and a conversion while Stokes dropped a goal.

More of the same would be just the job on April 26.