London League Three North West Hammersmith & Fulham 11 Tabard 12 JACK Reilly scored all 12 points as Tabard beat Hammersmith & Fulham to continue their bright start to the season on Saturday. Stand off Reilly kicked three penalties and a drop goal

London League Three North West

Hammersmith & Fulham 11 Tabard 12

JACK Reilly scored all 12 points as Tabard beat Hammersmith & Fulham to continue their bright start to the season on Saturday.

Stand off Reilly kicked three penalties and a drop goal to decide a close match between two grappling sides.

Tabard won the battle up front and to begin with dominated the game with several turnovers of Hammersmith ball and thus mounted some penetrating attacks but the Hammersmith defence held and it was not until the 15th minute that Reilly was able to open the scoring with a penalty after Hammersmith infringed offside.

Hammersmith were showing some flair of their own, especially in the counter attack and only good defence by Tabard, particularly in the centre by Matt Grace and Joe Cunningham, kept them out. Tabard also used the ball to good advantage and with Hammersmith defending tenaciously Reilly had no option but to keep the score moving with a dropped goal.

Hammersmith eventually pulled three points back with a penalty goal from Richards and then took the lead with a try virtually on the stroke of half time. Centre Sweeting scored in the corner and with the conversion missed the home side led 8-6 at the break.

Reilly kick started the second half with another penalty and Tabs created scoring chances although they could not force their way over the line. Good runs from scrum half Andy Murphy and surges from second rows Cam O'Connor and Josh Sio forced the hosts back.

The match continued to swing as Hammersmith struck a penalty from centre Gee to regain the lead.

Both sides pushed for the decisive strike and Reilly had a drop goal charged down which caught Tabard on the wrong foot and the Hammersmith wing was hauled down just short.

Tabard number eight, Scott Stoba, put in a magnificent scything run through the defence from the half way line but he too was stopped just short.

Then in the dying minutes Hammersmith infringed in the loose and Reilly kicked the penalty goal to give Tabard a 12-11 victory.

Tabard: Roberts, Beadle, Grace, Cunningham, Woodhead, Reilly, Murphy, Collette (Gough 49), Ray, Baker, Sio, O'Connor, Calnan, Montagu, Stoba.

On Saturday Tabard play Harpenden at their Cobden Hill, Radlett ground. Kick off is 3pm.