Teddington are getting into the habit of scoring ridiculously fast tries in matches and then taking their foot off the gas. Saturdays match at Bushy Park once again followed this template. 2nd row Callum JOHNSTON gathered a dropped kick off catch, the ball in one movement was spread wide to Glenn BOYLING, who cantered over to score within the first minute. BOYLING also slotted the conversion. The game then turned into a mid-field arm wrestle with both teams trying to take control and neither quite managing it.

The much changed Teddington team featuring several new combinations looked like a team which hadn't played in 3 weeks. Dropped passes, mis-timed runs and a general air of ring rustiness was obvious to see. After 20 minutes and against the run of play Teddingtons No 8 Dom STONE snapped up another PJF dropped ball well inside the Teddington half, he broke through two flailing tackles and had 50 metres of empty pitch to make a dash for the distant whitewash. His ageing legs and a final handoff carried him exhausted over the line for Teddington second try of the afternoon.

Purley were in no mood to lie down and once again took control of the game, after battering away at the line they eventually broke through and scored. With the score at 12-5 half time was beconing and the game was in the balance. Teddington at last started to click and after some fine phase play and ball retention the ball worked t's way along the line to left wing Jonny HARTE. Like a whippet he was around the last defender and scored his 8th try of the season. Purley were not going to fold and came back straight from the kick off with another try of their own. It was 19-10 at the change of ends.

After the break Teddington finally gained the control that had eluded them in the first half. Some well worked training ground moves left Teddington inside centre Matt 'The Rig' POOLE just inches shy of the line and possibly the try of the season, but Teddington didn't panic, the ball was recycled and out it came to a backline featuring several from the front five. As the try scoring and selfless pass was made by prop Tom COLLETT a Purley player was left with no option but to stick his paw out and knock the ball down. A penalty try was awarded by the referee.

This was the try that settled the Teddington nerves and further tries from Chris DICKSON and Chris LIDINGTON , put the game beyond Purley. The 6 try bonus point win was a satisfactory result, but the team will need to sharpen up ready for the next three weekends of tough fixtures. Far flung Coach trips to New Milton and Trojans are up next, with the 1's not playing at home until 31st January.