Mill Hill 23 Royston 10 IT was another difficult away game for Royston as their journey to north London ended with a 13-point defeat. Royston started well and dominated the opening 10 minutes and took a three-point lead when Michael Schurch fired over a

Mill Hill 23 Royston 10

IT was another difficult away game for Royston as their journey to north London ended with a 13-point defeat.

Royston started well and dominated the opening 10 minutes and took a three-point lead when Michael Schurch fired over a well-taken penalty.

However, it was from this point that the Crows went to sleep, with their tackling and commitment seemingly non-existent.

And Mill Hill quickly capitalised on a number of Royston errors and pulled back to even the scores with their own coolly taken penalty.

Then after a very sloppy 22 metre drop from Royston, Mill Hill attacked with their centre running through five Royston tackles to go over between the posts without a finger being laid upon him.

The try was converted, which gave the home side an undeserved 10-3 lead.

Some strange refereeing decisions followed, which only helped to frustrate the Royston players and add to their poor concentration.

One of these decisions awarded Mill Hill was a penalty in front of the Royston posts, which was duly converted.

Then just before half-time, the hosts again ran at the poor Royston defence, scything through several missed tackles to add a further try and more to Royston's misery with an 18- 3 half-time lead.

A very severe half time talking to by coach Kevin Green pulled no punches and served as a wake-up call for his team.

And the dressing-down seemed to have the desired effect as Royston went out and won the second half, though the first-half deficit proved too much to make up.

The visitors started the second half well and camped on the Mill Hill line, but were unable to turn their added pressure into points.

Frustration mounted, and from a stray lost ball Mill Hill gathered and ran the length of the pitch to score a breakaway try, but to Royston's credit they dug deep and started to play some better rugby.

And a great solo effort from winger Steve Bass saw a deserved Royston try, with Schurch converting to narrow the hosts' lead.

Unfortunately, it was a case of too little too late, although they did restore some much-needed much pride, with their man-of-the-match Bass running over for his second try of the game.

Coach Kevin Green was disappointed his team's first-half performance, but heartened by their second-half come back.

He said: "With a much-changed team through injury and unavailability, it was probably the worst game we have played all season.

"They were a fairly poor opposition, who have only won once all season.

"I believe that they dragged us down to their level and it wasn't until the second half that we eventually started playing some reasonable rugby.

"But there were some positives. Our lineouts and scrummages both went well, and it was also good to see Michael Schurch and Jack Sirrett available again.

"It was not a disaster, but a hiccup. At the moment we on a bit of a learning curve, and I'm sure the boys will bounce back to form and become in the long term a far stronger side."

- On Saturday Royston travel to Hertford for a friendly match.

The club's vets will take their place on the Heath, with a 2.30pm match against Black Horse.