Shelford IV 3 Royston II 12 TWO tries earned Royston victory at Shelford on Saturday. Shelford had started the game brightly, pinning Royston in their own 22 metre area. Royston conceded three penalties but Shelford were able to convert only one, giving

Shelford IV 3 Royston II 12

TWO tries earned Royston victory at Shelford on Saturday.

Shelford had started the game brightly, pinning Royston in their own 22 metre area.

Royston conceded three penalties but Shelford were able to convert only one, giving them an early 3-0 lead.

The visitors just could not get into the game for the first 20 minutes, and did not look like troubling the Shelford line.

However, the Royston defence was holding firm, but repeated infringements forced the referee to show Royston's Paul Rabbets a yellow card.

Despite being a man down, Royston got themselves into the lead following a mazy run from centre Rob Spragg that split the Shelford defence.

The try went unconverted, but gave Royston a 5-3 advantage.

A great break down the line from scrum half Gareth Thomas looked like a certain score, only for him to be caught five metres from the line.

As Thomas was caught he threw a blind pass over his shoulder that found the on-rushing Jamie Green who scored near the posts.

The try was converted by man of the match, young Will Cotterill, giving Royston a 12-3 half time lead.

The second half saw no additions to the score, as indiscipline from both sides was spoiling the game.

The referee was left with no option but to reach for his pocket and sin bin Royston's Stuart Highland and one of Shelford's props, but Royston held firm for a 12-3 victory.