EDF ENERGY INTERMEDIATE CUP: Cobham 33 Ruislip 7 

Second half errors cost Ruislip a cup run as they fell at the first fence in the Intermediate Cup at Surrey club Cobham.

The Maroons gave as good as they got in a marathon first half and should arguably have taken a lead into the break rather turn around at 7-7.

However, they threw away their chance of victory in the second period as an interception pass and a misplaced kick both led to tries which took Cobham, riding high in London Two South, out of reach.

The hosts then added two more scores to win the tie 33-7.

Captain Adam Cristol said: "I was frustrated that after playing 50 minutes of good rugby we just allowed them some soft tries.

"If we can maintain the same intensity of the first half we will be okay for our key game against Letchworth this week."

Cobham started well at their new £2m ground and it took some determined defence by the visitors to prevent an early score.

Cristol featured strongly in that effort with some big hits with fellow midfielders Sam Perez and Phil Grehan, although they could not prevent Cobham opening the scoring when a huge gap around a ruck was exploited from a turnover, allowing the No 8 to feed his open side flanker who crashed through under the posts.

Nevertheless, the next 30 minutes of a lengthy 54-minute half was all Ruislip as a strong scrum and some athletic work in the line-out provided a surfeit of ball.

Unfortunately the backs squandered a few overlap opportunities when they held on to the ball a split second too long and it took free scoring No 8 Chris West to find the gap and score a good try under the posts which levelled the scores.

Other opportunities were missed by the forwards when a series of scrum fives were not turned into points.

After a well-earned break the opening 10 minutes of the second period proved crucial because rather than Cobham winning the game it was more a case of Ruislip losing it.

An interception pass first allowed the speedy home right winger to run 70 metres to score under the posts and then a poor kick allowed a counter attack and led to another try. Cobham then brought on their large tight head prop and he had an immediate impact on the scrums, while his side added two more scores to wrap up victory. [25a0] The U17s fielded a weakened team against Enfield Ignatians but it did little to close the gap between first and fourth divisions as the young Maroons racked up a 104-0 win.

The tries came from Tim Hillel, Liam Clancey Callum Hennessey, Frankie Manton, Alfie Lacey, Rob Causer (2), Abdel Saed (2), Joe Nolan (3), Sam Seymour (3) and Sam Hainsworth, who converted 12 of them.

Ruislip take the development team to Stevenage on Sunday for a friendly fixture.

* Man of the match Rhys Verley scored four tries of Ruislip's nine as the U14s beat Enfield 71-0 to record their sixth straight win.

Verley shrugged off numerous attempted tackles to battle his way upfield while Ruislip's own Usain Bolt,

Ian Rowe, added two tries from deep and No 8 Ben Edwards also scored twice from scrums.

Centre Joe Thwaite tackled well and was rewarded with a first half try while Abbas Alladad streaked down the wing to score from 40 metres and Alex

D'Cruz got his maiden try for the club after hacking the ball on and scooping it up to score.

Jack Knights kicked three conversions and Charlie Noon added five.

Amersham and Chiltern are their next opponents.