Champions Hillingdon Abbots took their foot off the gas on Saturday but still got the job done against Saracens Amateurs.
Abbots have already sewn up the Herts/Middlesex Division Two title and niggling injuries and a high penalty count slowed the league leaders’ usual stifling pace in their penultimate game of the season.
Abbots gave away three early penalties in the space of three minutes which the visitors used to their advantage, kicking through the uprights to register the first points of the match and suggesting an upset was on the cards.
Man of the match Ben Foster shone in midfield for Hillingdon, breaking through the visitors’ lines time and time again and wing Dyneal Fessal was difficult to handle, gaining valuable territory with each run and sucking in most of the Saracens back line to defend against his surging attacks. But it was Hayden Elliot who finally produced the first points for Abbots, breaking out of a tackle and storming 40 metres through the midfield to cross the whitewash for his try. A further converted try from fly-half Elliot Wake ended the half with the hosts benefiting from a nine-point lead.
Saracens responded immediately after the restart but in-form Wake slotted home two kicks in a row through the posts to extend his side’s lead, although the away side would soon add a second, unconverted, try.
With the clock ticking down, Brad Buckingham had the last say with a well-worked score down the wing to end the match.
Abbots host potential runners-up London French in two weeks’ time.
Old Merchant Taylors’, who will end the season at home to St Albans on April 11, were 31-25 winners over Hampstead in London Two North West.
Ruislip suffered a heavy 83-19 defeat at home to Colchester in London One North. They travel to Woodford next.
