Youngsters in control

Stevenage 0 Royston under-14s 45

ROYSTON traveled to Stevenage on Sunday to contest the latest round of the Saracens League.

They were soon ahead when James Clare picked the ball up at the rear of a scrum and ran round the blind side from 30 metres to touch down to open the scoring.

Royston continued to use the wind well and a series of long probing kicks and darting runs gave them a penalty. Some quick passing from Clare fed Tom Stone who raced to the corner to double the try count.

A further powerful run from Stone at the restart led to the home side conceding a scrum on their five metre line which allowed Josh Maynard the chance to go over for the third try.

With Royston now camped in their oppositions half, a further flowing move by the backs fed the ball to Clare who again jinked his way through the defence to score.

In the run up to the end of the first half, Royston continued to pressure their opponents into mistakes and following an infringement, Stone took a quick tap penalty and fed the ball to Clare to complete his hat-trick of tries.

With scrum half Louis Boulter kicking with great precision and converting four kicks, Royston went into half time leading by 33 points without reply.

Stevenage rallied in the second half and, with the wind behind them, began to make inroads into Royston territory and only resolute defending prevented the home side from opening their account.

Alex McGoldrick drove the ball over the line following another impressive attacking move to increase the score.

Royston continued to defend with great tenacity and a brilliant tackle by debutant Charlie Woodcock prevented a certain try by the imposing Stevenage lock forward.

With the game drifting towards the final whistle, there was still time for Clare to score a breakaway try from within his own half and with one second half conversion by man-of-the-match Boulter, Royston ran out impressive winners.