HERTS/MIDDLESEX THREE Pinner & Grammarians 15 London French 11
PINNER & Grammarians share top spot in Herts/Middlesex Three with Ickenham after battling to a 15-11 win over London French at Shaftesbury Playing Fields on Saturday.
Playing into driving wind and rain, the Pinner forwards dominated from the outset, but it was the visitors who took the lead via the boot of centre Quintin Bassi after Pinner infringed at the ruck.
On the stroke of half time Pinner produced a wonderful length-of-pitch move that resulted in the opening try. Winger Graham Searle took the high ball in his stride before combining several times with full-back Mark Razzell to take the ball into the French half. The ball was off-loaded to flanker Warren Woad, who pinned his ears back for a 30 metre dash to cross in the left corner. Razzell pulled his kick wide as Harrow ended the half 5-3 up.
Number eight Bernie Richter crossed early in the second half from a pick and go but French scrum-half Erwan Goureau kept his side within two points with a wellworked try minutes later.
The visitors regained the lead for a second time when Bassi dropped goal from a ruck at Pinner's five metre line, but the hosts kept their composure and man-of-the-match Woad ensured Pinner's fourth victory in five outings with his second try of the game from a catch and drive.
