Hampstead went close but ultimately came up short against a physical Old Hamptonians side on Saturday. The fixture against the table-topping home team required a small Odyssey to reach and required Hampstead to navigate heavy snow.

Nevertheless, Hampstead belied the conditions to play some stellar rugby. Their brutally physical pack regularly marched them into the Old Hamptonians twenty-two and onto their try line several times in the first half, but the crucial score would not come, while the home side managed a well-taken try. Nevertheless, merely five points down and with the wind behind them, Hampstead felt good at the start of the second half.

Unfortunately a moment of panic in their twenty-two and a poor refereeing decision (in an otherwise good game) allowed Old Hamptonians to push over for a second score. Refusing to lie down, Hampstead’s stellar forwards led by MoM James Tryfonos, the uncompromising Guy Chapman and powerful Justin Walsh forced two penalties that Craigen kicked.

Merely 10-6 down, Hampstead were in the ascendency and an upset was on the cards. However, the subsequent kick-off was dropped and from the resulting pressure Old Hamptonians kicked a penalty that barely squeaked over the bar.

Hampstead still wouldn’t lie down and laid siege to the Old Hamptonians twenty two, desperate to salvage a draw. James Evans in particular showed little sign of the injury that had kept him out since Christmas, delivering some mazy runs up-field through countless broken tackles.

However, in a game where the ball was slippery and the pitch was really beginning to cut up, it was always going to be hard to generate the quick ball necessary to compromise a well-organised Old Hamptonians defence. The final chance went begging and Hampstead came away with the cold comfort of a losing bonus point for their troubles.

It was a great game by all involved, with the only blemish being the final score. A strong and gutsy performance by Hampstead who face London Welsh at home next week in a crucial match to secure a play-off place in April. Be available!

MoM: James Tryfonos for extraordinary tackling and carrying all day. Honourable mentions to James Evans and the rest of the forwards.

DoD: Undecided but probably Craigen for dropping a kick-off and for attempting a dropgoal that barely left the mud which he blamed on someone else. Also Ramier.