UCS Old Boys unable to clean up at Staines

Herts/Middlesex One: Staines 15 UCS Old Boys 12

UCS Old Boys came up just short with a second-half comeback to lose 15-12 at Staines in Herts/Middlesex One.

The rain relentlessly drizzled, then gushed down throughout the match at Staines’ well-appointed hospitable Snakey Lane ground.

Despite the wet weather, both sides held onto the ball reasonably well and play seemed evenly matched.

After fifteen minutes, a Staines wing broke through for a try in the corner that went unconverted.

Another fifteen minutes of to-and-fro rugby culminated in a further try, this one a drive-over by the home pack after they won a lineout in the Old Boys’ 22.

The Swans, by this time drenched, scored their final try stroke of half-time with their full-back breaking through the UCS defence to dot down and make it 15-0.

Braced by the encouragement of captain Chris Bean, the second half took a more penetrative turn for UCs.

Scrummaging was solid, especially on the Old Boys’ put-ins, while lineout jumping and wins were also in the ascendancy.

In the 62nd minute, Bean led by example with a fine captain’s mauling breakthrough try to come round and touch down under the posts, duly converted by Corne Van Vurren.

Boosted by Bean’s effort, UCS began to ramp up the pressure and attacks were plentiful, but it was not until the last ten minutes that they bore fruit.

Fullback Nat Breakwell executed two super-speedy tap-and-go penalty kicks to touch down, but the conversion was missed.

Old Boys’ endgame full-throttle attack had come just too late to afford a further scoring chance and the game ended with the visitors losing out.