St Albans Centurions lost their first match of the season going down 26-18 to Hammersmith

RLC Southern Premiership

St Albans 18 Hammersmith 26

THE Centurions suffered their first defeat of the campaign at home to Hammersmith Hoists, a team of Australians living in the London area, on Saturday.

In the scorching heat it was Hammersmith who got off to a flying start capitalising on a mistake from the kick-off to apply early pressure on the Cents line and with the game just five minutes old Hammersmith winger Trent Bloomfield crossed over for the game’s opening try.

The Centurions were next to score opening their account after a good run from the forwards down the middle catching the Hoists offside. From the resulting penalty the Centurions forwards took two further drives in and then sent the ball out wide for centre Rudie van der Mewe to score in the corner.

After clawing their way back into the contest, the Centurions contrived to throw away their hard work after sloppy discipline saw them concede three penalties in succession granting Hammersmith good field position and on the fifth tackle Hoists stand-off Dujon Gorgenson chipped the ball towards the corner which wasn’t dealt with by the Cents and Hammersmith crossed the whitewash again to make it 10-4 to the visitors.

Then with half time looming a 40/20 by Hammersmith gave them a scrum. From this the Cents defence was found wanting and Gorgenson skipped over for a try which he converted to give the Hoists a 16-4 lead at the break.

Hammersmith again started the brightest after the interval and were soon on the score sheet when winger Jo Reisterer scored in the corner after the ball bounced over a Cents winger. Gorgenson converted from the touch line.

The Centurions finally came to life running in two tries in the next 10 minutes. The first came from second row Andy Lake who found a hole in the Hammersmith defence and Brett Walsh converted.

Then winger Russ Kelloway again found the Hoist defence off guard and skipped through three tackles to score. With the Centurions now only two scores short everything was still to play for. But again ill-discipline cost the Cents who gave away two penalties on the fourth tackle and Hammersmith gained 60 yards down field and winger Reisterer from a quick tap scored in the corner.

Cents had the last say on the scoreboard when from the kick off Hammersmith knocked on. From the resulting scrum the Centurions went blind and then switched the ball right and a long ball out wide by Adam Kal found winger Darren Westhead who raced in to score in the corner. With 10 minutes left on the clock it was too late and Hammersmith held out to record a 26-18 win, and inflict the Centurions first defeat of the season.