Hendon 16 Royston 10 AFTER last week s frustration Royston head coach Kevin Green praised his players performance despite their fourth straight league defeat. It was another difficult trip to North London, however, and The Crows came away feeling robbed

Hendon 16 Royston 10

AFTER last week's frustration Royston head coach Kevin Green praised his players' performance despite their fourth straight league defeat.

It was another difficult trip to North London, however, and The Crows came away feeling robbed having played the better of the two sides.

With a much changed side Royston decided to keep the game tight and punch through the middle of the park with strong centres Dan Fox and Shaun McDermott.

And the plan worked well for long periods of the match, although their final pass often went astray at critical times.

At half-time Royston had everything to play for with the hosts just edging a 5-3 lead.

But a loose ruck led to another Hendon try against the run of play, with Royston appealing for offside.

Hendon extended their lead with two penalty kicks taking the score to 16-3.

However, Royston fought back and camped in the Hendon half.

Prop Steve Patmore drove over for a try from five metres, with Jason Deards adding to the points with a well-taken conversion.

Royston went close on a several occasions, and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty try.

Green said: "We played some good attractive rugby and certainly deserved a better result.

"Flanker Gary Ryall had an outstanding game and won a lot of loose balls.

"I also thought the players who came in such as veterans Paul and Colin Dacey and Steve Cook did very well, with second team players Jamie Gillespie and Clive Lees also acquitting themselves well too."

n Royston take a rest this week, but the second team entertain league leaders Ely at the Heath on Saturday at 2.30pm. The vets travel to Biggleswade.

Royston Under-17s 20 Harlow Under-17s 0

A SOLID all round display earned Royston a deserved win.

Harlow started well, but fly-half Joe Hillman and centres James O'Sullivan and Stuart Goldfinch stood firm for Royston.

On the wings Andy Smith and Ben Scullion were also strong, as was Dan Ritsema at full-back, and Hillman's kicking began to pin back the visitors.

Ritsema and Goldfinch both had half chances to open the scoring, as man-of-the-match George Elbourn rampaged through the Harlow mauls.

Then 10 minutes before the break, Royston were rewarded with a somewhat fortuitous try when Andy Smith pounced on a loose ball over the Harlow line.

Smith increased the score in the second half with a well-taken penalty before Goldfinch went over for a clever try.

Goldfinch then grabbed his second try of the game after picking up a loose ball and showing the Harlow defence a clean pair of heels.

Hillman made no mistake with the conversion to take the score to 20-0.