St Albans 2/3s 47 - Tring 3s 45

Dave Stanford captained what was left of St Albans RFC after "Seasonal Figures" had been taken into account. The club numbered 13 men, a 16 year old boy, Becky Andrews and a crippled Roly. The scrum was without a front row so uncontested scrums led toa game played at100 miles an hour. Tring sportingly gave us Sam, their untried, latest recruit and realised they had given us their best player! They thankfully took him back in the second half and I think he scored as many for them as for us! Well done Sam! Even with 14 we were soon back to 13 as Ryan Roughan was sin-binned for the accumulated fouls of all the team. St Albans were to open the scoring and the lead changed hands many times. The referee kept up with play as both teams went with ball in hand and tore up the pitch. Jack Stevenson commanded well at 10 and scored a brace of tries. His namesake Tony Stevenson was equally ambitious and got around the park. Buzz Aldrin and Damo made a welcome return to Boggymead, with Jack Middleton working well in both the lineout and open play. Both Duncan Sharp and Saj stormed the Tring line and when backed up by George Hathaway really proved the difference. Tring got what should have been the winning try (Sam again!) but the kick was missed.

Three minutes...

"Come on lads!" said Jack Stevenson.

A series of penalties near the Tring line got the ball right up there. With the last move, an O'Shea dummy run right and George Hathaway boshed through on the left! 45 - 45!

No minutes left but just the conversion to go.

"No pressure, Stilly!" exhorted Paul Randall from the sideline.

"YESSSSS!" as that lovely ball slottedover with a millimetre to spare.

Happy Christmas!

Ryan Roughan, Alex Sims, Mick O'Shea, Damo, Jack Middleton, Tony Stevenson, Dave Stanford (c), Andrew Still, Jack Stevenson, Duncan Sharp, Saj Fernando, Buzz Aldrin, George Hathaway. Sam.