Clash with the table toppers.

Datchworth had a difficult trip to Perivale last Saturday to play in-form Old Priorians, who are threatening to run away with London 2NW this season. Fresh from their very successful 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance the Saturday before, the men in green started brightly, with a huge tackle by Nick Gudgin leading to an Ollie Barnes penalty. This proved to be the only time in the match that Datchworth had the lead and it did not last long. Priorians’ back row and back line were quick, skilful and clinical. Despite some stout defence from the Datchworth midfield, Priorians were finding room in the wide spaces and scored two tries to lead 12-3. There then followed an excellent 10 minutes from Datchworth but, despite being camped in the opposition half, they could not break down the Priorians’ defence and an interception try saw Priorians take a 19-3 lead. They followed this by an excellent try involving the whole of their back line and most of the forwards. At 26-3 down after 30 minutes, Datchworth could easily have succumbed to a deluge of tries but, to their great credit, they stuck to their task and kept driving upfield for young No. 8, Dom Negri, to power over the line for a great team try. At 26-8 with five minutes to go until half-time, the green army were still in the match but Datchworth were dispossessed from the re-start and Priorians powered over to score again. At 31-8, Datchworth were looking forward to the half-time whistle and the chance to re-group but, after another sustained period of pressure by Datchworth, an opposition kick out of defence bounced off one Datchworth player into another and the resulting rebound was gratefully gathered by the Priorians wing who ran half the length of the field to score. This left Datchworth staring down the barrel at 38-8, an unfair reflection of Datchworth’s efforts but a fair reflection of the opposition’s collective skill.

The second half did not start well. The excellent Priorians were into their stride and quickly scored two converted tries to lead 52-8 but, once again, Datchworth rallied splendidly. First, Tom Bennett broke from the opposition 22 to score a superb individual try, after a period of excellent recycling by the forwards. Shortly afterwards, following some great defensive work, the forwards turned over the ball, powered up field, and fed the backs who took a leaf out of the Priorians’ book and spread the ball wide, a lovely miss pass setting up 18-year old flyer, Ryan Wheeler, to score in the corner. At 52-22, Priorians were not done yet and finished with another sumptuous try down the left wing. The match ended 57-22.

On the face of it, a sobering experience for the Datchworth boys but the scoreline is not a fair reflection of the competitive nature of the match. Datchworth more than held their own at the line-outs and scrums, Will Williams nicking two against the head, and for much of the match their defence was excellent. Once the Datchworth backs had adapted to the speed of their opposite numbers, they themselves put together some impressive passages of play. It was a sterling team effort. This young side is growing in stature and spirit every week and keenly awaits next week’s challenge at home to Old Streetonians.