HERTS/MIDDLESEX ONE: Old Abbotstonians 13 Verulamians 25
OLD Abbotstonians received a lesson in forward play as they lost their opening league game of the season 25-13 at home to Verulamians.
Abbots were lucky to only concede three points from the kick-off when sloppy defence almost allowed the visitors an immediate try and their problems continued when they lost hooker Ross Bendle to injury after just five minutes.
The visiting pack dominated the first 20 minutes on a hot day at Raeburn Road and despite fly half Jamie Jamieson kicking a penalty to level at 3-3 as Abbots rallied and their pack started to regain some control, Verulamians scored a try with the last action of the first period.
Trailing 10-3 at the interval Abbots decided to play open, expansive rugby and came close to a couple of tries but instead it was the visitors that scored twice to seal Abbots' fate.
The hosts showed good character to hit back with a couple of tries from Adam Welwyn and EdwardWoolley but they had left themselves with too much ground to make up.
Abbots hope to bounce back on Saturday away to Saracens, who are the league's early pacemakers after beating
Old Millhillians 45-5. [25a0] Doug Evans lead the second team to a narrow 21-17 win away to Beaconsfield III by scoring two first half tries and converting both.
The hosts hit back in a much more competitive half after the break but Abbots sealed victory with a try by Simon Coldwell, once again converted by Evans.
