An end to winning run

Old Ashmoleans 25 Royston 17

ROYSTON'S run in the in the EDF Junior Vase came to an end on Saturday (October 28) with a defeat away at Old Ashmoleans.

The home side, currently riding high two leagues above Royston, got off to great start scoring an unconverted try with less than three minutes on the clock.

However, the underdogs Royston hit back strong, turning over Ashmolean ball and spinning it quickly down their back line to wing Michael Schurch who scored under the posts, and converted the try himself to put the Crows in the lead.

Royston extended their lead following a great forward drive through the middle of the host defence.

The referee awarded Royston a penalty, which Schurch converted, giving Royston a 10-5 half-time lead.

Royston's advantage was quickly wiped out following the restart as Old Ashmoleans scored another unconverted try to tie the score.

But the men from The Heath were not done yet, with warhorse and man of the match Kirk Woodford disrupting the home side's ball at every opportunity.

Royston's skipper Jack Hillman picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and used a powerful hand-off to give himself time to offload to full-back Dacey, who burst through the line and had the whereabouts to ship the ball wide to Schurch, who cut inside his opposite number to freestyle in under the posts.

Again the Crows winger converted, giving the visitors a 17-10 lead.

That score was the final foray over Ashmoleans line for the Crows. Despite some valiant defence by Jack Sirrett, Ian Bibey and Charles Fiddler, the home side scored 15 unanswered points, to secure their passage into the next round of the Vase.

Crows captain Hillman said, "Despite the result today we came off the pitch with our heads held high. We've now got a week off before our next league fixture and I know the lads will be hungry for it.