Filip leads the way as forwards push UCS Old Boys to victory

Stefan Filip led the way as UCS Old Boys’ pack pushed their team to a third win from their first four games, securing a 26-14 victory away at Royston and a place in the top four spots in Herts/Middlesex Division One.

UCS took the lead with a penalty try and number eight Filip then barged his way over twice before captain Dave O’Dwyer followed suit to secure a bonus point.

The Old Boys exerted early pressure and their experienced front row drove over the line from a scrum. Filip knocked on as he grounded the ball, but the referee was playing advantage and awarded a penalty try, which was converted by James Boxer.

Royston hit back, capitalising on a series of silly penalties for offside in the ruck to score a converted try of their own, leaving the scores all square at 7-7 at the break – and UCS then lost Boxer to the sin-bin for a shoulder charge.

But Alex Klimov and Filip won a turnover to put the Old Boys on the front foot and, when Filip was taken out in the air at a line-out, Royston were also reduced to 14 men.

It was a key moment and the visitors regained their dominance at the set piece, with the pack driving over the line again – Filip this time making no mistake and Peter Blythe adding the extras.

It was a similar story soon after as the Royston penalties added up and, when their scrum-half was yellow-carded for preventing another try, UCS drove over again from a five-metre scrum, with Filip putting the ball down once more.

The Old Boys repeated the move soon after, O’Dwyer touching down after another forceful scrum to put his side 26-7 up – and although Royston got the final score, it was too little, too late.