Meanwhile second team bow out of the cup

Old Isleworthians 18

Royston RFC 19

Herts/Middlesex 2

ROYSTON maintained their recent good run of form with a dramatic late win away at lowly Old Isleworthians on Saturday.

The Crows scored the first try when Muirhead and Crawley combined after a solid scrum to allow the latter to power over the line. Simon Schurch converted. The visitors continued to apply pressure and their second try arrived from winger Paul Lawrence who dotted down in the corner after more good work from Muirhead and this time Sam Morris. However Schurch missed the conversion attempt from an acute angle.

OIs then scored a try against the run of play after some poor defending and while the conversion was missed, they did score a penalty just before half-time to reduce the deficit to 12-8.

The second half was a war of attrition as the day got hotter and the energy levels dropped. Isleworthians’ backs were full of energy and, cheered on by their big crowd, attacked Royston with wave after wave of mauls and rucks. And the pressure soon paved the way for the inevitable try which was converted to give the hosts a 15-12 lead.

Disaster struck with three minutes left when OIs scored a penalty to open up a six-point lead. The match seemed lost for Royston, but heroics from Morris who charged down a kick despite his broken nose gave his team possession. Captain Scott Easy span the ball out to the waiting backs who moved the ball to Crawley who strolled in unopposed under the posts from a yard such was the speed of Royston’s hands.

And with the last play of the game, Schurch stepped up to kick the conversion between the posts to secure a triumphant victory.

Royston RFC IIs 3

Newmarket IIs 17

Greene King Deuxieme League

Royston IIs bowed out of the Greene King Cup on Saturday despite taking the lead through an early penalty and producing a battling performance thereafter. Steve Crook was named Man of the Match after producing several excellent tackles on his opposite number. Royston will look to take this level of performance into their remaining matches this season.