Ricci and Vees flourish in the Cotlandswick rain as St Albans suffer heavy loss

The Bloomfield boys, Adam and Tom, look to stop David Jones. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

The Cotlandswick-based rugby club took a while to get their noses in front but when they did, they made sure there was no way back for their nearest neighbours.

Fraser Morris slips off a Tom Maile tackle. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

Full-back Alex Ricci scored 28 of the points, grabbing two tries and kicking three conversions and four penalties.

Daniel Townson leaves Robin Wildey on the floor. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

Joe Seymour got the other two tries. The pleasing point for coach Sam Perry though was not the points scored but rather the points not conceded.

Christopher Jones is tied up by Joe Seymour and Tom Bloomfield of Verulamians. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

He said: “It’s always nice to come away with a zero on the board.

Christopher Jones tries to clear under pressure from Alex Ricci. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

“The boys are buying into what we are trying to do here and it’s starting to show in our results.”

Jordan Cox is tackled by Tom Bloomfield for Verulamians. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Archant)

The win was Vees’ second since winning promotion to London North West Three and they sit second in the table.

For St Albans on the other hand, the result was their first loss of the season but could have been so much different had they taken early chances.

Harry Tude had two shots at goal inside the opening eight minutes, with the second bouncing back off the post.

And with a downpour making handling difficult, the visitors enjoyed the better territory during the first quarter.

But Vees had the first big chance of the game, Mike Hollister intercepting on his own 10-metre line but the distance proved just too far.

It was a warning shot though and one not heeded by Saints who went behind on 26 minutes when Ricci’s break up field saw him reach his kick ahead and touch down.

The conversion hit the post but he was on target two minutes later after Sweeney combined with Ben Russell.

Two penalties by the Vees’ full-back in the two minutes before half-time gave the hosts an 18-0 lead at the break and Ricci’s metronomic boot landed two further kicks in the second half, the first from inside his own half.

Sam Allen’s yellow card put Vees under huge pressure but when Saints received a yellow of their own, Seymour stepped in for his second.

Ricci got the bonus point score with four minutes remaining, after a fine team try which had Allen and Sweeney heavily involved.