HERTS/MIDDLESEX DIVISION TWO: Uxbridge 33 Mill Hill 34

Uxbridge produced a thrilling comeback only to concede a controversial late try to lose out by a single point in 67 at home to Mill Hill.

The hosts were only 12-8 down at the break, the Uxbridge points coming from a penalty by Michael Weymouth and a try from full back Glen Curtin, but they soon found themselves staring into the abyss when Mill Hill scored 17 unanswered points from the opening minute of the second half.

Two soft tries were followed by a third after the referee, who was taking charge of his first match at this level, failed to spot the visiting forwards handle the ball in a ruck and at 29-8 the game should have been over.

However, Uxbridge were handed a life-line when the Mill Hill pack killed the ball at three breakdowns in a row and the scrum half was finally shown a yellow card. Uxbridge made the extra man pay within a minute as they stole a line-out and after the pack took the ball on Curtin scored for a second time in the corner.

Moments later after substitute Sam Carter carried the ball forward the pack piled in and simple passing gave winger Tony Bailey the chance to show his finishing prowess and a minute later Wey-mouth spotted a huge gap, backed himself and outstripped the defence to score under the posts. Surprisingly he missed the conversion but Weymouth looked to have redeemed himself in the 76th minute when he showed great soccer skills to dribble into the try area and pounce on the ball to take Uxbridge to within a point of the visitors.

Mill Hill were back up to full strength but looking tired and from an attacking scrum Uxbridge spun the ball blind where Curtin smashed through at the corner to complete an excellent hat-trick and put his side 33-29 in front with only a minute left. Unfortunately two dubious penalties gifted Mill Hill possession and good field position and after what many spectators and players saw as a forward pass, they limped over to score the winning try and dash Uxbridge hopes of a first league win.

Uxbridge entertain Mitcham in Round Three of the EDF Junior Vase on Saturday. * Staunch defending prevented Staines IV running up a cricket score but the seconds were still on the wrong end of a 36-0 rout in their Middlesex Merit Table Division Five clash.

They travel to neighbours Old Abbotstonians II on Saturday.