A disappointing end to the 1st XV's home programme of League games.

The 1st XV gave poor fare to the watching public and it was a fully deserved result for Royston in their first League game at Byng Road. They had chances in the second half but were not decisive in their moves or tactics and let chances slip by. With the wind and the ground slope in the second half, they should have been kicking to the bottom left hand corner and taking control of the resulting lineouts. Instead, they wanted to run through the centre where they were stopped frequently. Moreover, their discipline, throughout the game, was not good as they racked up too many penalties against: three, in the second half, were committed by LUKE WILLIAMS in as many minutes and he was yellow carded, having ignored two warnings from the referee.

Royston used the wind and slope better in the first half. They kicked a penalty goal after five minutes and had many other attacks. On the half hour mark, the visitors had a five metre lineout, which they won and released their fly half who had a simple run through for a try, duly converted. BE spent most of the first half in their half of the ground although once or twice their pack was able to drive Royston backwards. With the exception of CHRIS BROMILEY, in the middle of the line, the BE lineouts were not fully functioning whilst their scrum was disrupted frequently, either with wheeling or with SANJAY DEWAN being caught in possession. There were a couple of chances for GLYN BAYLEY and ROBBIE CAMERON-STAFF on each wing but they were just that, half chances.

BE quickly restarted the second half with a try, LLOYD MORGAN driving the pack from 22 metres out before he scored a try. 5-10 should have been the platform for BE's to build upon although they kept losing their way in midfield as well as their discipline. When WILLIAMS was off, Royston scored against the run of play: the converted try meant it was 5-17. Back came BE with MATT NICHOLAS, who was always dangerous, making the break before releasing DAVID LEADBITTER who made ground down the wing before finding, who else, LLOYD MORGAN, BE's man of the match, to score his second try. So 10-17 but, again, BE let slip of the match and Rosyton scored another late try to seal the game.

The 1st XV are away to Imperial Medicals on Saturday at 2.30pm. CHANGE OF VENUE - NOW AT HARLINGTON SPORTS GROUND, SIPSON LANE, UB7 - just north of Heathrow and directly off the M4 at Junction 4.

PGY