TWICKENHAM 30 ROMFORD AND GIDEA PARK 19

Playing at home against the bottom side in the League, and with their preferred second row of Peter Goff and Jeremy Davies together for the first time this season, this should have been an easy match for T’s. However the visitors played with great spirit and shaded the first half, before being worn down in the second.

T’s opened the scoring with a try from captain James Clark after a terrific break from winger Leon John, but then sloppy defence allowed Romford back into the game. They scored no less than three tries, two converted, to leave T’s somewhat shell-shocked and 19-5 down.

They got back into the game with a try for 19-year-old prop Richard Moses from a rolling maul. This was followed by a great movement in the backs and a kick ahead that looked a certain try in the corner; but the T’s man leading the race for the ball was about to touch down when tackled without the ball, and the referee awarded a penalty try under the posts which was converted for the 19-17 interval lead to the opposition.

In the second half T’s exerted much more pressure and looked to be returning to something like their true form. There was a penalty for Clark, followed by another try for Moses from a drive at a lineout, which Clark converted.

The match was notable for the debut appearances of two sons of former T’s captains. Bobby Wallis, son of Ian, and Neil Francis, son of Jerry, both acquitted themselves well, with the young Francis getting T’s final score with a long-range penalty.

Twickenham’s indiscipline continued with two yellow cards, and the side has still get into full swing. They will have the opportunity next week, away in the League to Woodford.

Twickenham Scorers; Tries Moses (2), Clark, Penalty try; Conversions Clark (2) penalties; Clark, Francis.

TWICKENHAM; Porteous, John, Wallis, Guyett (Francis 65), Clark, Peters, Moses, Tytherleigh, Burt, Goff, Davies, Ford (I’Anson 60), Dawes (Drinkwater 40), Kirby.