Allen hat-trick not enough as St Albans Centurions suffer derby defeat

Published: 2:21 PM May 17, 2017

Updated: 2:59 PM November 1, 2020

Sam Allen crosses for his hat-trick. Picture: DARRYL BROWN - Credit: Archant

A hat-trick by Sam Allen was not enough for St Albans Centurions as they fell to a 44-22 derby defeat at Hemel Stags.

St Albans Centurions' Alex Curtis, one of several 17-year-olds in the Cents line-up, chases down a Hemel Stags dropped ball. Picture: DARRYL BROWN - Credit: Archant

They were on top for the opening 10 minutes but couldn’t find a way over the line.

New St Albans Centurions signing Jake Pennington-Slater fends off a Hemel tackle. Picture: DARRYL BROWN - Credit: Archant

And they were made to pay as Hemel ran in four tries, three of them converted, in a sparkling 10-minute spell.

Kieran O'Shea runs with the ball for St Albans Centurions. Picture: DARRYL BROWN - Credit: Archant

Allen got his first just before the break with a side-step, converting it as well, and he danced through early in the second period, converting that one too, to narrow the gap further.

And when a long pass put Joe Shaw in straight after, the gap was down to 10.

But the threat of a comeback woke Hemel up and five tries in 17 minutes finished the game as a contest.

There was still time though for Allen to score and convert his third.