Bury St Edmunds III 46 Royston Vets 0 ROYSTON went to Bury St Edmunds intent of gaining revenge for their defeat in early December – but came away with a crushing loss. The Vets never really got into the match despite giving a good account in the lineou

Bury St Edmunds III 46 Royston Vets 0

ROYSTON went to Bury St Edmunds intent of gaining revenge for their defeat in early December - but came away with a crushing loss.

The Vets never really got into the match despite giving a good account in the lineouts and scrummages. However, the hosts were just too quick for Royston, with the visitors rarely troubling the Bury line.

The Crows started nimbly with the ball being passed down the backs to Cameron Murdoch but having made the initial break, the home side's cover at the back proved too strong as Royston struggled to get the ball back.

And the hosts' first try followed soon after, as their backs weaved the ball through the Royston defence with ease - a move that created five converted first half tries.

The score could have been greater had it not been for superb last ditch tackles by man-of-the-match Tony Payne and Colin Dacey.

Royston's pack was then shuffled when Paul Rabbetts went off injured, and Dave Mitchell, and Bruce Purcell joined the action. Adam Oakman also came on for what was his first taste of senior rugby.

Oakman impressed with one great tackle and one brilliant run down the right which saw him bundled into touch. Bury St Edmunds added a further try in the closing stages to run out deserved winners.

Royston Vets: Howell, B Payne, Boyce, Cottrell, Bergen, Downes, Rabbetts, Phillips, C Dacey, P Dacey, Murdoch, Smith, Crook, Spragg, Payne. (Subs): Mitchell, Oakman, Purcell.

Hemel Hempstead Under-14 24 Royston 10

THE young Crows crashed out of the county cup against a tough Hemel Hempstead side. The hosts were soon in front when a powerful driving maul drove over the Royston line to open the scoring.

The visitors settled, with captain Nathan Crossman and Alex McGoldrick producing some fine tackles one of which led to a turn over at a ruck. From there James Clare picked up the loose ball and offloaded it to Tom Stone who then sprinted 40 metres to level the score.

Hemel responded with some direct running from their forwards and touched down on the left wing. They increased their score following a series of five-metre scrums. And with a further two points added from the conversion, The Crows found themselves trailing 17-5.

But Clare showed his talent once again, when he broke from the rear of the pack on 22 metre line and raced through for a further five points.

In the second half Royston were unfortunate not to add to their points when fly-half and man-of-the-match Stone, rolled agonizingly close. Hemel increased their lead in a rare second half venture forward. Although Royston had much of the ball after the break, they were unable to add to their tally, despite some encouraging runs from new winger Simon Pullen.