Black Horse 22 - Upper Clapton Extra A 11

Clapton suffered their first loss of the season against an impressive Black Horse team at Hertford on Saturday. The result means that if both teams remain unbeaten in the league they will be level on points when Black Horse travel to the club on 20th March.....very 'citin!

Saying that however, the club will have to up the game in all aspects if they are to avenge this defeat.

Now for the excuses! The old boys were missing several key players with Vern sunning himself, eating curried cabbage, some where in North Korea, Kenty and Shieldsy injured, Sprolly family commitments, STACEY LESLIE and Matt Kelley working to name but a few. Big Kev also arrived with a hurty foot while the guv'nor suffered a hair line fracture of two ribs while making his first tackle of the match but played on, god he's 'ard.

The key to the Black Horse victory came from two sources. Firstly their pack were very well drilled and not only won all of their own scrums and line outs against the bigger Clapton pack but most of Clapton's as well. The second was their handling in the backs where the BH inside centre consistently broke through the Clapton defence.

Black Horse out scored the club by four tries to one, Lobbo scoring Claptons try after some neat handling allowed him to canter in from half way. Potato also popped over a penalty as well as a drop goal....a drop goal did I hear you say, yes, yes you did, a wonderfully crafted effort under immense pressure.

Clapton were also unlucky not to score a couple more tries when all 19 stone of Shrek junior was held up over the line, "Massive" Mike Brown knocked on over the line and Lobbo couldn't take a pass from Damo when he had a clear run in. Saying that though it was a case of the old boys taking their medicine as Black Horse accounted for about 90% of the possession dominating with both forwards and backs.

Moment of the match came from the referee for penalising Wilson for consistently throwing the ball in not straight....down the Black Horse side!!!

The MOM rosette went to Peter Piper who picked a pack of pickled Peppers

Next week the Old boys travel to Letchworth for another Merit Table match