Rugby Union: UCS Old Boys endure agony of close loss at Saracens Amateurs in Herts/Middlesex One

Mert Zabci scores a try for UCS Old Boys at Saracens Amateurs (pic: Nick Cook) (Image: Archant)

UCS Old Boys suffered a narrow defeat under the Friday night lights at Saracens Amateurs in Herts/Middlesex One.

After two phases and two minutes of play, Old Boys electrified the opposition and spectators alike with a lightning strike try by Alex Turton.

The hooker broke through a maul in the Saracens 22, before crunching through the opposition defence to dot down under the posts.

Though the score went unconverted, the try clearly demonstrated Sarries to be in a sleepy haze.

The opposition only began to wake up after twelve minutes of play, when awarded a penalty between the UCS posts, which they kicked to bring the score to 5-3.

Old Boys struck again, though, with one of the mightiest team-linking tries seen all season.

A quick tap-and-go penalty by the irrepressible Chris Bean made good yardage, before passing to Ahmed Ghanem, who in turn found Ben Brooks, who sped away from the defence to score.

With Brooks scoring under the posts, Tim Hyland was able to add the extras as UCS led 12-3.

However, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Saracens made it a two-point game with a converted try of their own.

With no further scores before the break, Old Boys were able to take a slender 12-10 advantage into the interval.

Some superb touch-kicking at the start of the second half Hyland put UCs in several good attacking positions, but no scores emerged.

It proved costly as a Saracens back broke through the UCS defensive line on the 22 to touch down and give the hosts the lead, though the extras were not added.

Midway through the half, Saracens scored another try under the posts after winning the ball from a loose maul, increasing their lead to 22-12.

These scores seemed to come against the run of play and occurred during a frustratingly fallow period during the second half.

However, with ten minutes to go, an Old Boys fightback began in earnest, with several multi-phase attacks deep into opposition territory eventually resulting in a try for Mert Zabci.

All the try ensured, though, was a losing bonus point as UCS fell to a narrow defeat.