Conditions at Dukes Meadows: Breezy, ground soft underfoot, low scud cloud, with intermittent scattered rain showers.
CS Stags kicked off right to left with the wind behind them. A see-saw first few minutes saw both teams gauge the wind and conditions, and attacked in turn. Morgan Davies was yellow carded on 15 minutes as Harpenden applied pressure. A Harpenden drive was held up on the try line. Harpenden applied continuous pressure against the wind with a strong pack and good ball retention, and were finally rewarded with a pushover try following a 5-metre scrum on the half hour mark by their number eight. This was converted by their No. 15 (who kicked well throughout the match) – CS Stags 0 – Harpenden 7. Eight minutes later Harpenden scored again after the second of two consecutive 5-metre scrums on our lie – a repeat of the pushover try. This was also converted by Harpenden number 15 – score now CS Stags 0 – Harpenden 14. Stags now decided it was time to get into gear. A line out on the Harpenden left five metre goal line saw Stags drive through close a couple of times, before channelling the ball out right through the line for Parimal Shreshta to score in the right corner just before half time. Try not converted – half time score CS Stags 5 – Harpenden 14.
Second half saw the wind die down slightly, and CS Stags did spend the first ten minutes attacking vigorously. However, Harpenden then came down the pitch again fifteen minutes in, and were awarded a line out just between the Stags 22 and goal line, which they caught and drove through for a try. Try converted, score now CS Stags 5 – Harpenden 21. Stags then rallied again, and after a good run and breakthrough by Parimal Shreshta that gained a fair bit of ground, the ball was swung left for George Butt to break through with force and score a try in the left corner on the 20-minute mark second half. Try unconverted – CS Stags 10 – Harpenden 21. Harpenden then converted a penalty three minutes later through their full back again, to make the score 10-24. The Harpenden pressure was relentless again, and on the half hour mark their centre broke through the defence to facilitate another try just right of our posts. This was converted again to make the score CS Stags 10 – Harpenden 31. And that was the final score as the whistle was blown straight away to end the game.
To summarise in the words of Chris Swann (DOR) and Coach Oli Bryant – conditions weren’t that fantastic, but Harpenden came here with a game plan which they executed very well, leaving us the wrong side of a result.

Man of the match: Mike Ozdilli (as awarded by Oli Bryant, Head Coach) – stuck in there the whole game, and led by example as captain.
Special mentions: (Also as awarded by Oli Bryant, Head Coach) – Zinny Norman and Sam Miller were outstanding, and Ben Logan as well coming back after injury. All these boys fronted up really well.
Debut appearances for Jack Loughnane and Lewis Jones – welcome to the club boys.

CS Stags Tries: Parimal Shreshta (X1) - (5 points), George Butt (X1) – 5 points