MIDDLESEX MERIT TABLE SIX: Old Priorians 29 SNOBs II 7

An outstanding performance by St Nicholas Old Boys Mitres, the club's second string, failed to be reflected by the final score as they went down 29-7 at Old Priorians.

The hosts scored two early tries but the Saints pack responded well, dominating the scrums and making a nuisance of themselves at the line-out to deny the opposition backs good possession.

Powerful running from Ricky Egan-Russell and Graham Brooks nearly resulted in the first points of the game for the Mitres but they were denied by committed defending, while indiscipline also cost SNOBs good field position.

Nevertheless, the hosts always looked dangerous and a fantastic individual effort from their full-back saw him end a mazy run under the posts although the grounding looked highly suspect and another try in the dying minutes of the half gave them a 29-0 lead at the halfway mark.

The introduction of captain Chris Creak for the second half signalled a change in SNOBs fortunes because they not only continued to dominate the scrum but more physicality and aggression at the breakdown, most notably from Charlie Boden, Rob Woolf, Roger Hickman and Marco Cirillo, disrupted their younger opponents and forced a number of errors.

Fly half Rolan Tissink went the length of the pitch to score an interception try before adding the conversion with a drop kick to win the half 7-0, although the game turned sour when Boden gave an opponent severe treatment for killing the ball at the breakdown.

In the resulting scuffle scrum half Chris Gislingham was punched and had to get a wound above his eye stitched at hospital.

Incensed by that incident SNOBs lifted their game once more in the final stages of the match although they were unable to put any more points on the board.

Joe Oliveira put in a fine performance in his first game at full back to win the man-of the match award. * The Ickenham-based club welcomes new to join them - see their website www.snobrfc.co.uk or email Tony Horan at info@snobrfc.co.uk.