St Albans Centurions finally brought their run of losses to an end last Saturday at the Colosseum, when they defeated local rivals London Skolars A 24-14.

Herts Advertiser: Dan Tominey dives over to score.Dan Tominey dives over to score. (Image: Archant)

The Cents fielded a strong squad, despite missing four first-team members through injury, and pushed Skolars hard in the early exchanges with some strong running and set completions.

It didn’t take long for the Cents to get the scoreboard ticking over when, less than 15 minutes into the game, Nick Woolley created a gap for Chris Davies to crash over the line. Lewis Dempsey added the extras.

From the restart, Skolars started to pile on pressure of their own but the defence held firm with some bone-crushing tackles.

After withstanding the brief Skolars onslaught, the Cents then went back to the other end of the field and teenager Dan Tominey scored his first try for his club. Dempsey was perfect, yet again, with the conversion.

Skolars got on the scoresheet just five minutes later as Nathanal Turner went over in the corner. James Fletcher’s kick sailed through the uprights but he failed with his next attempt after James Hooko crashed over as Cents took a 12-10 lead into the break.

In the second half, St Albans came out with a bang, hammering the Skolars line. But it was the visitors who scored first, a well crafted backs move sending Cameron Furlong in. The conversion sailed wide.

The Cents came straight back, though, and the onslaught was finally rewarded when Davies slammed in from close range. Dempsey converted to give Cents a 18-14 lead.

Needing to create an opening, Skolars upped their tempo but a crunching hit from Scott Clelow swung the game in Cents’ favour. With all the momentum, Scott Paige wrapped up a good move, and the game, by ploughing through the full-back, to touch down. For good measure, Dempsey completed a perfect kicking-game to seal a 24-14 win and Cents’ first London League success of the season.