Finchley 60 v Old Hamptonians 10

A day best forgotten is how Hampton will view this game. Finchley were impressive yes, especially going forward, but Hampton simply didn't turn up and a porous defence made things look easy for the home side, writes Ben Lowe.

Once again it was a much changed Hampton line up, and at times they played with the feel of a scratch side. In the first 5 minutes they put this, and the shambolic trip to Finchley, behind them to surge into the lead courtesy of a long range Duncan Peel penalty. For much of the half thereafter it was one way traffic for Finchley, as swathes of red & white threatened to overwhelm a half asleep Hampton. Poor defence gifted Finchley 3 tries, and they also scored a penalty that clearly missed the upright. This just added to OH frustration, as did a number of bizarre referee decisions, which probably led to fly half Ben Lowe's justifiable sin binning for dissent just before half time.

The score had approached 30-3, but OH began to play better at the start of the second half using a close in driving game. This was the correct tactic, especially with one man down, and this approach from the off might have given the game a different complexion. However this resurgence and a return to 15 players was a temporary halt to the Finchley points scoring machine, as they racked up further tries, their impressive scrum half, back three and openside running OH ragged. OH did pull one score back when Lowe broke blind, found Jo Beal who hit a great angle and managed to offload for Phil Tait to score in the corner. Peel converted brilliantly from the touchline. Backrowers Gareth Wilcock and Jon Bawden gave some go forward at times, and Wilcock covered his usual massive amount of ground and was strong in the tackle, but there was precious little else for OH to take from this game. The league is beginning to split into a clear bottom & top half, and OH know what they need to do to remain at the right end having beaten most of the top 5 this season. They have to put it right quick, starting with Barnet at home this Saturday. Training continues on Wednesday nights 730pm.

Team - Baker, Gillbe, Burman (sub Ioannou), Frankenberger, Maclenan, Bawden, Cooke, Wilcock, Peel, Lowe, Tait, Price, Beal, Jones A, Thomas