St. Albans welcomed the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) Rugby Club to Boggymead Spring on Saturday for what turned out to be a pulsating game of rugby. With only 1 point and 1 place separating the respective sides, a tight game was expected and although the scoreline suggests otherwise, aside from the first quarter, it duly was a tight affair.

The visitors had chosen to come by train but a substantial delay meant they only arrived 20 minutes prior to the 2.30 kick off time. This played into the hosts hands as it was plain to see from the early exchanges that HAC appeared a little 'ring rusty'.

With only 6 minutes gone and with the home side dominating all areas, Saints duly opened the scoring. Good quick ruck ball was created and scrum half Jon Price, seeing the HAC left wing out of position,chipped ahead into the space. Saints wing Ed Coy gathered cleanly and managed to scamper into the corner just before the the cover defence arrived. Skipper Mark Kentish converted beautifully from the touchline. The hosts were creating plenty of opportunities and it wasn't long before their territorial dominance paid dividends. With HAC trapped deep in their own 22, they attempted to clear their lines but the kick was charged down and from the ensuing ruck the front row of Dave Hayes, Brenton Lemiere and Mitchell Turner combined with some neat interplay which saw Turner touch down. Kentish again converted. Still all the play was in the HAC half and with Saints turning the screw in the scrum, the visitors appeared to have no answer to the hosts dominance. Saints looked set for a pushover try but their relentless march to the line was only halted by foul play and the penalty try was rightly given. So after 20 minutes of total dominance, Saints had amassed a 21 point lead.

HAC however then improved noticeably. It was perhaps a surprise when they scored a very well worked try, but that score seemed to give the visitors hope and for the latter part of the half it was HAC that were doing the attacking. Good solid tackling, particularly from back rowers Falvey and Stevenson, kept the visitors at bay, but Saints were now witnessing the true colours of HAC and their dangerous backs.

The second period began and it was clear it would now be a much more even contest. The visitors made changes which appeared to galvanise their forwards in particular. Saints were now not having it all their own way. HAC were having slightly more of the play but Saints defence held tight. Both sides knew that the next score would be crucial and after chances at each end it was the hosts that broke the second half deadlock. An exciting break in midfield from centre Gareth Lane but when he was tackled on the 22, the Saints pack were first to the breakdown. Flanker John Sayers smuggled the ball back to Price who found stand off Martin Alderton in space. He committed 2 defenders to the tackle before cleverly off loading to centre Joe Grove whose strength and momentum carried him over. That try, Saints 4th, surely put the result beyond doubt, but the feisty City of London outfit were still looking for tries. Saints brought on Mitchell and Trude for some important game time. The visitors were on the attack again but a strong tackle from Fraser Morris caused the HAC centre to spill the ball forward. The advantage was with Saints, the loose ball bounced nicely for scrum half Price and his electric pace saw him beat the cover on halfway to sprint the 60 metres to the line and touchdown under the posts. HAC then scored a well deserved try to bring the score to 35-14. The game effectively over and with the bonus point win secured, Kentish kicked two long range penalties in the dying minutes to add some gloss to the score and take his personal tally to 7 from 7.

St. Albans XV:- Kentish, Coy, Lane, Grove, Taylor, Alderton, Price; Hayes, Lemiere, Turner, Davies, Morris, Sayers, Stevenson, Falvey. reps - Joubert, Trude G, Mitchell.