Pinner & Grammarians 43 Southgate 0

Pinner & Grammarians RFC got their promotion challenge back on track with a seven-try demolition of Southgate on Saturday.

First half tries from wing Ashley Fiston, Devon Sardie, MikeTurner, Russell Joyne and number Bernie Richter, with the last three converted by fly-half Mark Rezzell, ended the game as a contest by the break.

Jarrod Sanghouse then scored another try in the second half, which was again converted by Rezzell, before Garth Lindeman powered over the line to complete the rout.

Even though they were playing up the slope in the first half, and with several key players missing, it soon became clear that Pinner's pre-Christmas defeat by league leaders Hatfield had been erased from the memory.

The backs were soon in to their stride, with the centre pairing particularlystrong. Fiston broke the deadlock and persistent pressure from the pack prevented South-gate from gaining any momentum.

Sardie, Turner Joyne and Richter all crossed the whitewash in quick succession, and Rezzell's conversions meant that Pinner went into the break leading 31-0.

They carried on where they left off soon after as, from a ruck, the ball as returned inside for wing Sanghouse to waltz under the posts unopposed.

Another strong attack resulted in a scrum, which Pinner won. The ball was pinged out to the left, where centre Lindeman barged through to land Pinner's final score of the afternoon.

They had several chances to increase the lead but a lack of concentration resulted in forward passes and dropped balls. The game became disjointed, with uncontested scrums, while a Southgate prop received medical attention, yet Pinner bosses were delighted with the contribution of 18-year-old wing Danny Allen, who made his senior debut as a second half replacement.

On Saturday Pinner host Hayes at Shaftesbury Playing Fields, Hatch End.