Stags downed by Irons

A difficult evening for the Fat Stags who had an abbreviated squad, shortened even further by some early injuries. Up against a Battersea Ironsides squad who were well drilled and pacey out wide Teddington went down 0-7 early on. As the half progressed and possession increased the Stags started making inroads into the opposition defence and after several line outs and repeated penalties on the Ironsides tryline, scrum half Alain van West went over at the back of a dominant maul.

Neither side took ascendancy and at the half time whistle the score was even at 17-17.

The second half was the cue for Ironsides to bring on some younger, fresher legs whilst the Stags had to keep on their older and staler ones. The difference told as some fluid handling from the visitors found them repeatedly in space out wide on what was a huge 3G pitch at London Irish. Despite heads never dropping the Stags were struggling to contain the opposition backline and the game ended 17-48.

Mention should be made of the most successful element of our game, the lineout, which was immaculate throughout thanks to precision throwing from Andy Brooks and safe hands under pressure from Si Davis and Anthony 'Wallace' Enright.