Abbots’ lapse leads to end of unbeaten record
Hillingdon fail to recover from French’s 11 point deficit RUGBY UNION
EASTCOTE men's prepared for their top of the table clash with Oxford on Saturday with a convincing victory over neighbours Old Merchant Taylors’ at the weekend.
The boars were looking to bounce back after two draws in MBBO Regional One – and did so with their biggest league win of the season.
Eastcote went ahead in the first half with a penalty corner that was converted by Peter Brooks but they really up the ante after the break. OMTs' defence has no answer as skipper Alex Stobbart recorded a brace while Kevin Haigh, Simon Archer, Chris Akhurst and Sam Formans all got on the score sheet.
Eastcote managed to keep a clean sheet and sit second going into the clash with leaders Oxford this week while OMTs' are one off the bottom with a solitary point.
Eastcote ladies' managed to get a hard fought 2-2 draw against second placed Spencer in South Clubs Women's Hockey League Division Two. After initially going behind, goals from Helen Williams and Sofia Castle pulled them back level and held on to secure a point and remain in mid-table. They next face unbeaten Surbiton on Saturday, November 8. Elsewhere, Lou Kelsh was player of the match as Old Uxonians edged out Hampstead & Westminster sevenths 2-1. Hampstead may lie last in Division Two of the Middlesex Women's League but they presented a stern test. Somerset McFadyen put the home side ahead from a penalty corner but Hampstead equalised before half time. But as the game entered the final stages, Lisa Kinder scored to take victory for the Uxonians, who now sit sixth in the table. HILLINGDON Abbots paid the penalty for a lapse in concentration just before half time as they lost their 100 per cent record to London French on Saturday.
Abbots couldn't quite recover from an 11 point deficit at the interval as they were beaten 29-25 with their opponents leapfrogging them at the top of Herts/Middx Two as a result of the win.
The damage was done late in the first-half as French scored two converted tries and a penalty as the visitors went off the boil and although fly-half Elliot Wake replied with two penalties of his own, Abbots were 17-6 down as the sides turned round.
Abbots, rejuvenated after the break, scored two quick-fire tries through Adam Webster and Neil Gordge before poor discipline saw the penalty count rack up against them.
Dave Francis then went over for a converted try to give Abbots hope and they put French under enormous pressure but the hosts managed to turn the ball over and add a further penalty to leave the visitors with just a losing bonus point for their efforts.
Abbots will aim to get back to winning ways on Saturday against Mill Hill, who edged out secondbottom Ickenham 21-20.
In the same division, Uxbridge stay 12th after losing 67-22 at home to Thamesians and they visit Old Isleworthians, who sit one spot above them, this weekend.
Elsewhere, Old Merchant Taylors’ bounced back from their defeat against Staines with a 37-10 bonus point win at home to bottom of the table Hemel Hempstead in London Two North West.
Ex-Hemel Hempstead player Liam Meddeman returned in style to open the scoring for OMTs' while James Hibbert, James Gregory, Francis Tuinasakea and Dom Williams also crossed the whitewash.
The win lifted OMTs' into fifth ahead of their trip to the team just below them in the table, Hammersmith & Fulham, on Saturday.
Ruislip, who are 11th in London One North, narrowly lost 33-31 at fellow-strugglers Ipswich and they are at home to mid-table Luton this weekend.