Controversy as Vees are out of luck again

London Four North West Old Verulamians 29 Hammersmith and Fulham 42 VEES felt aggrieved again after another controversial refereeing decision put them in trouble at Cotlandswick against Hammersmith and Fulham on Saturday. The home side went into the game, still smarting after they had been denied a win against Grasshoppers due to a controversial try in their previous match. Two penalties put Hammersmith 6-0 up early on before a try followed and Vees were less than impressed when a knock on before the ball was retrieved and taken over the line was ignored. While the OV players waited for a scrum to be called the referee awarded a try and then immediately apologised for making a mistake but refused to overturn his decision. This put the home side 11-0 down and Hammersmith crossed twice more in the first half to lead 25-0 as the shell shocked Vees tried to get their heads around what had happened. A stirring half time talk from coach Andy Wakeling led to a home fight back in the second period. Debutant Colin Driver made good ground up the left side and put Darren Westhead into space, allowing the diminutive winger to scorch into the 22 but he was held up near the line. The cavalry soon arrived though and drove him over for the first home score of the game. Hammersmith hit back again with a try then lost a man to the sin bin after an infringement. Vees opted for another scrum from the resultant penalty and drove the weakened opposition pack over their own line for a Mark English pushover try, making it 30-10. Hammersmith hit back with a try but Vees powered forward again and Ollie Gardner started and finished a great move. He took the ball from Lowles at fly half and broke the defensive line before feeding the supporting Elliot who took the ball on. From the ruck the ball went to Gardner who blazed through to score under the posts. Lowles added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 37-17. More forward pressure from Vees led to a penalty five yards from the Hammersmith line and man mountain Lewis Smith set the ball up for a driving maul. The inspirational Nathan Stewart bundled over for a try which was converted by Lowles. Vees then dropped off and Hammersmith scored another try before the home side hit back with the final score of the match. Driver took off on a driving run that took him deep into opposition territory, outpacing the cover defence and, with only the full back to beat, he calmly fed John Liddiard who strolled in for the final score of the game, making it 29-42. OVs showed a lot of spirit and heart to come back from such a body blow so early in the game and they will hope to start in the same vein against Hitchin this weekend.