After two week’s rest Royston continued their London 3NW campaign away to London Welsh at Old Deer Park on Saturday, expecting a tough encounter but one they would relish, especially with much to put right after the previous game against Verulamians. With injured Captain Ben Ritsema watching from the side-lines, it was up to stand in skipper Jon Brain to fire up the troops and that he did.

From the first whistle, Welsh were intent on bullying their lighter opponents upfront, with their forwards relentless with their carries into the heart of the Royston D. To their credit, the D didn’t flinch, and turnovers were regular in the shape of forced handling errors, allowing Royston to feel their way into the game. At scrum time, the front row of Ollie London, Jonno Whittingham and Charlie Sparkes held firm under considerable pressure, and Royston started to play some ball. A half break by outside-half Will Cottrell put second row Brain into space in midfield until the move broke down, but it at least announced Royston’s arrival to the party. This continued shortly after as Cottrell had the audacity to chip the ball over the onrushing defence in his own 22, allowing full-back Will Dacey to catch it and make yardage into the Welsh half, but the ball was turned over. At the line-out, jumpers Butcher, Gilbert and Finney regularly won their own ball (when the throw was straight…), a vast improvement on the last clash with Welsh the previous season. The lineout unit even started to disrupt Welsh ball and wouldn’t budge when it came to defending driving mauls, nullifying another of Welsh’s key weapons as they continued to ramp up the pressure.

Finally, the pressure told as a poor clearance kick from Royston allowed Welsh to spread the ball wide against a disorganised defence, with their outside centre scoring near the posts for a 7-0 lead once converted. To their credit, Royston responded well, starting to carry hard at the Welsh defence, with centre Max Ayliffe even requesting an inside crash ball off Finney into both Welsh second rows, feisty! Welsh missed a penalty shortly after in their attempt to extend their lead, but finally managed to do so when their lively scrum half took a quick tap penalty and put their flanker in at the corner for an unconverted try, just escaping the attentions of winger Dan Ritsema as he attempted a try saving tackle. Again, Royston responded, with the handling amongst all players top notch, which allowed them to make inroads into the Welsh half to force a penalty that Dacey duly converted to reduce the score to 12-3. Unfortunately, Ayliffe was injured in the build-up and replaced by the returning James O’Sullivan. Welsh then missed another penalty shot at goal before Royston had a further attempt of their own after flanker James Meecham won an excellent penalty for holding on, but Dacey pulled it just wide as the half-time hooter went.

At half-time, the desire of the Royston players went from one of simply trying to contain Welsh, into one of trying to force our own intentions on proceedings, all backed up by comments from Coach Gallagher. Royston knew they were more than in the game and a fast start to the second half would be crucial to proving so, but this has been a challenging goal for Royston this season, normally being caught cold upon the resumption of battle.

This time Royston got off to a flier with scrum half Adam Smith organising proceedings as the boys turned over Welsh ball and pinned them in their own half. An indiscretion by Welsh allowed Gilbert to take a quick tap penalty, almost making it to the line before he was dragged down five metres short. Royston battered the Welsh line until Butcher performed his second terrible grubber kick of the day to turn the ball over (you been training with Rocky Butch?). Nonetheless, Royston won a kickable penalty shortly after, but again Dacey uncharacteristically missed the target, leaving Welsh much breathing space at 12-3 as opposed to the 12-9 it could’ve been. Fresh legs were introduced from the bench in the form of prop Will Sparkes, twin brother of fellow prop Charlie, to confuse not only Welsh but also many of the Royston team (“Why is your voice so different Charlie?” mused Gilbert in the warm-up). Royston continued to try and force their way into the game, with centre Chris Ellis enjoying his personal battle with ex-England centre Tom May, who had controlled the game excellently for Welsh throughout with his experience. There was no score from either team in the second half for nearly thirty minutes, with the key Royston highlight being the quite frankly ridiculous no look reverse pass from Brain that got Royston back on the front foot after fielding a clearing kick from Welsh. Welsh continued to build the pressure as they sought to put the game to bed, and they finally scored their third try from another loose clearance kick from Royston, with the ball spread wide to the winger to just get in at the corner despite Ellis’ best attention, conversion missed.

Not to be despondent, Royston introduced Paul Greaves from the bench to try and push for at least the losing bonus point their performance deserved now that they were 14 behind on scoreboard. Winger Callum Morgan-McDermott and second row Finney continued to carry hard at Welsh to force one last chance for Royston, and one more chance did come their way. Excellent hands between Butcher and London put Gilbert in space down the left, where he chipped the winger, re-gathered the ball, and carried hard into the Welsh 22. Support was in abundance and Ellis made further inroads towards the Welsh line after quick passes from Smith and Cottrell, but Welsh again turned the ball over with the momentum building. Welsh then turned their attention to securing the much needed try bonus point for their promotion push, and they began to hammer away at the Royston line in relentless fashion. An unbelievable try saving tackle by Greaves, Ritsema and Charlie Sparkes’ face prevented the Welsh prop getting in at the corner with the clock almost up, but the play was brought back for an earlier infringement. Again, Welsh came at Royston once more, but the driving line-out was successfully stopped and the ball turned over, allowing Royston to try and see out the game at one last scrum. Royston looked to have achieved this with time expired, but unseen hands in the ruck from Welsh turned the ball over once more, and several penalties later, with Butcher and Gilbert particularly guilty as they tried in vain to retrieve the ball for Royston, Welsh opted for a scrum that eventually led to a penalty try and that bonus point.

A much-improved performance from Royston, and one they can build on as they prepare to face Datchworth at home next week, and hopefully not in the monsoon conditions that have befell the Crows in their previous two home games. Numbers at training will be key this week as Royston look to secure their first points for a few matches, in a league that gets tighter and tighter each week.