UCS 9 Hampstead 34 HAMPSTEAD notched their third consecutive London League division three victory on Saturday when they trounced local rivals UCS at Ranulph Road. Hampstead have been a revelation in recent weeks and in Saturday s derby match produced a s

UCS 9

Hampstead 34

HAMPSTEAD notched their third consecutive London League division three victory on Saturday when they trounced local rivals UCS at Ranulph Road.

Hampstead have been a revelation in recent weeks and in Saturday's derby match produced a solid first half display before they upped the tempo and cruised to victory.

"The hard work in training certainly paid off in the second half," said Ali Halsall, Hampstead's delighted coach.

"The boys played very well and backed each other all the way and they had the bottle to stick with the game plan.

"We need to keep working hard and take each game as it comes."

Few would have anticipated the decisive victory when UCS opened the scoring with a penalty from James Boxer.

But Hampstead levelled the scores when Dave Mold, who bagged 21 individual points in last week's resounding 56-8 defeat of London Nigerians, replied with a penalty for 3-3 at the break.

In the second half Mold stretched the lead when he kicked a penalty soon after the break but Boxer immediately levelled the scores for UCS when he slotted his second penalty of the match.

But Hampstead upped the tempo and replied with a drop goal from Mold who then, minutes later, rifled home a penalty for a 12-6 lead.

Ben Martyr kept up the pressure when he touched down for an unconverted try to give the visitors a handy 17-6 lead and then Ben Fenhert added to the tally with a try that was converted by Mold.

Yet UCS weren't done with and James Boxer cut the deficit when he kicked his third penalty of the match. But Mold cancelled it out when he immediately responded with a penalty of his own for 27-9.

In the final minutes Mold scored a superb end-to-end try and converted.

Hampstead are away to Enfield Ignatians in the Middlesex Cup on Sunday and UCS are away to London Nigerians on the same day.

Hampstead: Henwood, Martyr, Paul, Gornall, McHale, Perkins, Lacey, Smith, Dodwell, Mold, Van Bosch, Jenkins, Evans, Fenhert, Tanner, Templar, Wadsworth, Loakman.

editorial@hamhigh.co.uk