Brunton breaks his try drought as Datchworth pile on the points

A tremendous run from Mark Holgate got the visitors off to a flying start within the first 5 minutes. Verulamians pushed hard from the kick off to pin the greens in their own 22, but soon gave away a penalty at the breakdown. Sam Brunton found his touch, and quick lineout ball found its way to Holgate on the second phase - the second row bursting through and rounding the last man to finish a 30 yard run. Tom Wood added the extras for an early 7-0 lead.

The second try soon followed as Verulamians kicked deep into Datchworth's half. Sam Brunton released Tom Bennett on the counter attack, before John Simons made a break in midfield offloading to Stuart Young for more yards. Simons himself made the next break from the back of the ruck to put the forwards near enough to smell the white line; winger James Watt had an opportunity out wide before Marcus Potter went close under the posts. Liam Walker then powered over for 12-0.

Datchworth started to make errors chasing more points, Watt looked to be in on the left wing and the forwards had another rumble - both chances falling foul of the slippery conditions.

A third try arrived shortly before half time, James Young taking a crash ball through the centre. Wood converted, and moments later Young grabbed his second of the day. Verulamians' scrum was driven backwards inside their 22, forcing the number eight to pick up and throw an ambitious pass straight to the fly half. The ball bobbled for Young to pounce and get across the line. Another Wood conversion made it 26-0 at half time.

Straight from the restart the visitors were pushing for more points, and after some good phases a break by Stuart Young let Holgate have another run with hooker Ross Merrilees in support. With one man to beat he gave the pass to Watt who was unopposed and finished well, but to Merrilees' dismay it was marginally forwards - a good spot from the referee.

The greens soon attacked again on the left, turning over a defensive V's scrum. Young went blind, and Wood took a chance to snipe through for extra yards with the former hot on his heels. The pair performed a quick one-two to beat the last man with Wood crossing the line for Datchworth's fourth.

The sixth was some time in coming but was well worth the wait. Holgate again broke through the middle, almost a carbon copy of his earlier run but without the legs to finish this time; the full back covering well and fast approaching. A quick glance to Watt, screaming for the ball out wide, was enough to realise the pass was out of his range. Despite Bennett following up close behind for the offload, the big second row attempted, and executed, an audacious chip around the full back towards the left corner by calmly dropping the ball onto his right boot. The bounce was perfect for Watt to go over in the corner, but will never be spoken of again.

With minutes on the clock, Watt registered his third brace, and eighth try, of the season. Another deep kick from Verulamians fell to Bennett who recovered well and looked to go wide. Centre Alex Nolan cut a line back infield to make important yards and set up a three on one. Watt being the first man rounded the last defender and touched down under the posts. Wood slotted another for 43-0.

The final play of the game saw the eighth try of the day, and a special moment for stalwart Sam Brunton - his dry spell seemingly having lasted longer than the Roman Empire. A big drive from the forwards let Stuart Young pick and go, setting a solid platform. Having committed numbers at the breakdown, a huge gap opened and Wood gave the simplest of passes into the fly half channel for Brunton to gracefully go over for the final score. One last Wood conversion and Datchworth notched up the 50 points and with it another bonus point win.

The villagers have one more league fixture before the Christmas break; a tough visit to Cheshunt on Saturday which they will need to win if they are to stay close to league leaders London Welsh, and put pressure on Old Streetonians who are still one point ahead of the greens in second place.