Civil Service 30 – Twickenham 17

Within 5mins of Twickenham kicking off, league leaders Civil Service, were 3 points ahead after a penalty against Ts. However Ts replied almost immediately with a fine forward drive resulting in a try for Charlie I’anson. The score stayed at 3-5 until half time with Civil Service looking the shabbier side and Twickenham looking the likely victors, it was theirs for the taking.

With I’anson having been yellow carded just before the break, the second half started with the Ts down to fourteen men and almost at once the Service pounced on a fumbled ball by the Twickenham fullback and their number four plunged over for a soft try. This seemed to lift their game and in the next half hour they proceeded to score three more tries, two conversions and a penalty, wrapping up the game as far as they were concerned.

But Twickenham although out, were certainly not down and with Joe Foley playing a storming game in the centre they responded with a fine try by Ronnie Howden, converted by Andy Rogers and another try by Matt Waddden but it was all too late. To make matters worse T’s formidable wing forward I’anson was yellow carded for a second time and had to leave the field.

Twickenham started well enough and finished the stronger side but allowed the game to slip away during the third quarter and left themselves too much to do to gain the two points for a win. They looked more comfortable playing the running, passing game than when they were kicking from hand and need to be better organised in deep defence.

Team: M.Nicholson, C.Tytherliegh (capt), R.Moses, P.Goff, J.Davies, C.I’anson, R.Kirby, J.Pace. A.Rogers, M.Wadden, J.Foley, S.Stone, C.Russel, B.Isherwood, T.Howden, (subs. M.Gayle, S Colquorn, J.Peters).

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