The game started well for Hampstead, who displayed at least parity upfront and superiority out wide. BA were clearly up for this game and the opening minutes were physical and fast paced, with Dilnot-Cooper and Milles putting in some strong tackles and carries.

The first try of the game finally arrived when Drinkwater, put into about a yard of space by a well worked set piece move, displayed his searing pace to run from our own 22 and score. This was some consolation for the two utterly botched attempts preceding it. First, Broome gathered a kick from halfway and cut through BA’s scattered defence only to spill the ball whilst clear over the line. Then, following a great break by Luke Arnold off the back of a scrum and fantastic support from the Hampstead backs, a non-existent forward pass blew a three man overlap.

However, pressure on BA continued to toll and, after a try from a tap penalty was called back because ‘the opposition were not ten’ Drinkwater went over for his second off the back of a scrum. He would then deliberately sabotage several opportunities in the first half in order to desperately avoid his hat-trick pint.

The second half went on much as the first, with Hampstead exerting pressure out wide and shutting down BA’s attempts to batter their way up field. Griffiths, in an assured performance at fly-half that earned him man of the match, sliced through with a fine dummy for Hampstead’s third. Broome, atoning for his earlier sins, soon followed with Hampstead’s fourth, using his speed and agility to finish off a smooth set of hands from the backs. Finally, James Evans rounded off the game in style before exiting the field with cramp.

BA, to their credit did pull a try back after some concerted pressure before perhaps the highlight of the match. After stalwart defence on their own line, Hampstead earned themselves a scrum in the last play of the game and the backs, eager to go out on a high, called for stand-in fly half Craigen to run it. Instead of using the assured hands and pace that had reaped such great rewards hitherto, Craigen saw the space and opted for the cross field kick which landed perfectly in the hands of the opposition’s wing. One phase later BA had scored and the ignominious title of DoD was secured.
A good day’s rugby with some very strong performances marred only by the referee’s unique interpretation of the breakdown. Hampstead will need to be more disciplined and even more physical to go the distance in this league, but this is a good start to a promising season.

Man of the match: Michael Griffiths for an excellent performance at 10, narrowly pipping James Evans.

DoD: Craigen. Since he doesn’t drink this was given to Pasko for lasting all of five minutes and participating in zero scrums before injuring his calf. However, I am retrospectively reversing this and giving it to James Keene who failed to turn up to the game and sent me an e-mail about four hours afterwards describing how he was too hung over to play. I hope he enjoys playing for the 4th XV.