Hampstead pay the price for slow start against Beaconsfield

Hampstead put in their best attacking performance of the season but paid the price for an appalling start as they went down 34-24 at home against high-flying Beaconsfield.

With a number of late changes to the squad, Hampstead had the air of a team thrown together at the last moment – and they started the game playing like one.

From the kick-off, captain Max Rawlinson kicked the ball back to Beaconsfield’s No8, who ran in a try from the halfway line, beating almost every Hampstead player in the process – the visitors promptly scored another try to go 14-0 up after barely five minutes.

When Rawlinson was forced off with a shoulder injury, the home team were staring annihilation in the face. But then something magical happened - Hampstead started to play rugby, and two quick tries from the magical Ben Savigar-Jones and Pete Evans levelled the scores.

Beaconsfield hit back with a penalty and a converted try to calm the nerves, but Hampstead responded again with a brilliant backs move culminating in a try for Will Pettit, leaving them 24-19 down at the break.

The hosts started the second half on the back foot, but managed to absorb the pressure and had just gained the momentum when replacement scrum-half JD Pienaar was sin-binned.

That proved to be the turning point and Beaconsfield scored two quick tries to ensure victory - although Hampstead had the final say with a late try that earned a well-deserved bonus point.

“I’m proud of what we did and there are clear signs we’ve turned a corner,” said Rawlinson. “We’ve got three must-win games coming up now.”