Stevenage Under-17 47 Royston Under-17 19 BESET by sickness, injury and unavailability, Royston slipped to a heavy defeat. Despite travelling with 12 players, they put up a brave fight, with wingers Darren Grover and George Elbourn sweeping back into defe

Stevenage Under-17 47 Royston Under-17 19

BESET by sickness, injury and unavailability, Royston slipped to a heavy defeat.

Despite travelling with 12 players, they put up a brave fight, with wingers Darren Grover and George Elbourn sweeping back into defence.

Within five minutes the home side were 14 points in front.

But when the ball went down the backs, outside ­centre Stuart Goldfinch looped round Grover on the wing and accelerated past the defence to score between the posts.

With another try late in the half, Stevenage went into the break 19-7 up.

In the second half, the home side scored a further four converted tries, despite dogged resistance by the Royston pack - particularly from Eddie Hall and James Watson.

Man-of-the-Match Goldfinch then snatched another Royston try, and Adam Oakman at fly-half and Will Cottrell created problems for Stevenage.

Royston's final try was scored by loan prop Joe Smith, who bustled over from a penalty tap.