London Three North West St Albans 35 London New Zealand 10 ST ALBANS returned to second place in the league with an emphatic victory over strugglers London New Zealand on Saturday. The visitors were no push over but poor discipline gifted St Albans nume

London Three North West

St Albans 35

London New Zealand 10

ST ALBANS returned to second place in the league with an emphatic victory over strugglers London New Zealand on Saturday. The visitors were no push over but poor discipline gifted St Albans numerous penalties to repel their attacks. Once again Saints kicker Mark Kentish was in imperious form with a personal haul of 15 points.

London New Zealand started the game at a furious pace and immediately had the home side on the back foot. Within three minutes they had opened the scoring with a try and Saints had not touched the ball. The simple conversion was missed, however, and it did not take St Albans long to open their own account, when Doug Morete split the opposition defence to score under the posts. Mark Kentish added the conversion.

On 15 minutes, St Albans extended their lead when winger Ed Coy burst through some weak tackling inside his own half and sprinted clear. He chipped the ball over the full back, collecting his own kick to score a spectacular try. Kentish obliged with the conversion.

Both sides continued to attack but as the penalty count rose against the visitors the referee eventually lost patience and their second row was confined to the sin bin. All the penalties cost them dear as Mark Kentish slotted over three before half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern but as the rain got heavier mistakes set in. St Albans continued to press and London New Zealand continued to concede penalties, although they were careful not to give Kentish any further easy kicks. Saints' next score was a push-over try touched down by number eight Justin Joubert. Again Kentish added the conversion.

Midway through the half the referee again lost patience with the New Zealanders and their prop was yellow carded. At the next scrum their wing forward was sacrificed to bring on a replacement front row but following the scrum, at which Saints pushed the Kiwis off their own ball, the referee deemed the replacement inadequate and for the next ten minutes the game reverted to uncontested scrums.

Towards the end of the game Justin Joubert scored his second try to put St Albans 35-5 in front and Kentish's perfect afternoon was spoilt as he saw his conversion fade past the upright. With virtually the last move of the game, London New Zealand grabbed a consolation try bringing the final score to 35-10.

This was a fine win with Saints having the upper hand throughout. The coaches awarded Man of the Match to Justin Joubert for his two-try effort.

This week Saints travel to play Hammersmith and Fulham.