Streatham-Croydon’s wingers scored all four tries in Saturday’s comfortable 29-13 win over Worth Old Boys, but it was the forwards who laid the platform for victory, writes Owen Jones.

Coach Bob Dean will have been delighted with the way his new-look side gelled so quickly.

It took just five minutes for Patryck Kowalski, in his new position of open-side flanker, to launch a surging run into the opponents’ 22. He found winger Mannie Pryce, who burst through several weak tackles to score and Charlie Crewe’s conversion made it 7-0.

Old Boys hit back with a penalty and an injury to Streatham hooker Oliver Goldsmith saw him replaced by Ian Park, who had been out for nine months with Achilles trouble. Gareth Ford-Hunt switched to hooker.

Crewe kicked a penalty to make it 10-3, before Streatham scored a wonderful try.

Deft handling among back-rowers Simon Hampton and Tim Riley made ground up the middle, before Gavin Toussaint spotted space behind the Worth winger to place a perfectly weighted kick for the returning Aaron Brown to chase and ground in the corner.

The inspirational Kowalski went off temporarily with an injured hand, but Streatham led 15-3 at half-time.

In the second half, Streatham’s pack caused all sorts of problems, but it was Brown who pounched for an interception try, outpacing the visiting backs after Old Boys had tried to move the ball along the line.

Old Boys scored a consolation try, before Pryce rounded off Streatham’s scoring with a devastating finish to a superbly-worked backs move. Crewe’s conversion made it 19-8 before Old Boys scored a second try of their own.

Streatham skipper Brian Dargan said: “Our support play really made the difference. It is what makes a team. We have to make sure that the ball carrier has options every time.”

Streatham-Croydon host HSBC in the first round of the RFU Junior Vase (3pm). Admission is free.