Even for the resilience and never say die attitude of this McEwan lead Hampstead team, this performance took the proverbial biscuit. Trailing an Old Habs team 14 V 0 at half time a team ever present in the top 4 over the last 2 season seemed too high a hill to climb. In fact Hampstead had done well to keep the score down to 14.

Lacking a few key players in decision making positions (3 first XV number 10's!, ) and the normal strength in depth in the front row meant the team were basically under the cosh for the entire 40 (48) mins! Superb tackling by every player on the pitch, most notably: Tom Jordan, Declan Lamyman, Max Moncrieffe and tackle machine Ferguson kept Old Habs just about in sight.

An inspired decision to move Arthur Haynes to 10, a decision influenced by Will Pettit, saw initial improvements and Dimoline reduced the gap to 3 V 14. And then on 51 mins The task looked close to impossible when Old Habs scored another converted try for 3 V 21 lead.

8 minutes later Hampstead lead 22 V 21. 8 minutes of quite simply the best rugby this current team have produced. 3 tries of the highest quality and 2 conversions had given them a lead. 2 tries must be nominations for 'samsung try of the month'.

First try was by Alex Brookes, a break out from our 22m, started by the inspirational MOM Craig Harper, involving no fewer than 7 off loads, the best hand off of the season by AJ, some inspired running and passing ended with the converted try.

At least this gave the massive support of the Hampstead Womens teams something to cheer about. Twice in the next 4 mins Hampstead almost scored equally good tries. On their 3rd attempt Haynes went over for another superb score.

These though were merely the prelude for the 3rd try. Scored straight from the kick off after the 2nd try, the team again displayed their talents for; running, supporting the ball carrier, off-loading, passing and finally for scoring when AJ crashed over. Dimoline then conveyed for a 22 V 21 lead.

All that was needed then was to hang on to a 1 point lead for 20 mins, 10 of which were done with 14 men!

Breen 'When the opposition: captain, coach and chairmen declare that it was the best rugby they have seen at this level, then you know you have played some pretty good rugby" In fact the opposition chairmen said that "he was himself proud of the Hampstead display"

4 games (including the 2 warm ups) 4 wins and some pretty impressive rugby. With some extremely good players soon to return, things are looking good.
There is now going to be more and harder competition for places in this team, than at any time since I became coach. It will be interesting to see just how much better this competition for places can make us.