Final score is cruel on Tabard

London Division Two North . . .

Tabard's disappointing season continued on Saturday with yet another loss, but the game was more exciting than the final scoreline suggests.

The visitors actually enjoyed some good periods of attacking pressure, but without reward.

After the game, the referee was surprised at the standard of Tabard's play and remarked that "it hardly looked like a game between sides from both ends of the table".

However, despite Tabard's performance, they were soundly beaten and this was yet again an heroic performance from a team not strong enough on the day.

For Tabard, centre Michael Thomas had a powerful running game and stand-off Jack Reilly was in good form, but Staines were able to penetrate the Tabard defence, especially as the game drew to a close.

The match started evenly enough. In fact, after the first few minutes, Tabard were the better side and it looked like an upset might be on the cards, as they converted the early pressure into points, with Reilly converting a penalty goal after five minutes. The game then settled into a close-fought affair, but Staines came back into it and, after some pressure on the Tabard line, the hosts went over in the corner.

Then Tabard's injury jinx struck again, when number eight Gareth Davies, a key player in the Tabard tight five, had to leave the field after a bang on the head.

While Tabard were regrouping, Staines scored a second try. This proved to be the final score of the first half, and the teams turned round with Tabard losing 10-3.

Tabard were caught flatfooted at the start of the second half, and Staines quickly scored again.

The game then settled down, with Tabard having their chances, especially winger Neil Hopcroft, who showed some speed on the wing, and Thomas, who showed a lot of penetration in the centre and had the Staines defence worried at times. Unfortunately, it was to no avail and, midway through the half, Staines had a good period, scoring three tries to effectively put the game beyond Tabard's reach.

Nevertheless, Tabard did enjoy a good spell of pressure and looked like scoring a couple of times, with Reilly coming closest, but the Staines defence held and Tabard were left without reward.

Then, in injury time, Staines scored two more tries to add further insult to injury.

TABARD: Fleuren (Wyatt 25), Beadle, Thomas, Ashcroft, Hopcroft, Reilly, Karstel, Long, Baker, Wilkinson, O'Connor, Troyer, Perkins, Stoba, Davies (O'Connell 35).

PETER COOK * Tabard conclude their season with a home game against London Nigerians at Cobden Hill, Radlett, on Saturday (3pm).