Civil Service stepped out into the dry but very windy weather with a new sense of purpose on Saturday after the close game against Hertford and a solid practice week the team were ready to push on in what has been a difficult start for the club in London 1 baptism of fire would be close.
Civil Service started with great vigour and almost over ran Old Albanians for the first 10 minutes and should have come away with something but for all the hard work it was not to be. Old Albanians pack were absorbing a lot of pressure and fielding their strongest pack were perplexed not to be making much headway and indeed going backwards. However they are an experienced team and after the initial onslaught steadied themselves and started to get into the game with the play moving gradually to a more central part of the field rather than their 22. This seemed to steady them and they started to move the ball about with some useful positional kicking and some useful forwards play the ball was spun wide with Civil Service chasing across to the corner Civil Service fullback clearly taking the OA winger out over the touchline before he hit the flag and touching down the official kept the flag down and a try was awarded on 24 minutes 0-5. Civil Service continued with a great deal of attacking play but it took until the 48th minute of the extended first half to score the equalising try from 13 Adrian Dench 5-5 on halftime. OA started the second half quickly and appeared to get the upper hand after 5 minutes with a breakaway try by the 12 5-10. Civil Service seemed to decide collectively that was enough and turned the screw scoring 2 tries within 10 minutes a try by 10 Lewis Farrar and the second by 15 Gareth Caldwell, still smarting from the poor line call earlier 15-10. Civil Service continued the momentum the pressure getting to OA’s who had 2 players sin binned during this half. On 70 mins after a good deal of forward pressure 16 sub hooker Daniell Somerville came up with the ball and the points 20-10. The game was heating up as the frustration set in amongst the OA forwards and there were a few handbag moments as Civil Service refused to give way. OA’s were looking concerned but had no answers as Civil Service pushed on the forwards determined work forcing a try by 6 Steven Ebbett 25-10. At the death Civil Service struck again with the backs leading the way and a try for Tom Sumner ending the game at 30 -10 at 6 tries to 2 a well deserved win.
PT