Same old story for lowly Tabs

London One Old Colfeians 52 Tabard 21 TABARD were unable to compete on Saturday as they struggled with a depleted side at Old Colfeians in London One. The Cobden Hill outfit, for so long the flagship side for Hertfordshire, are now struggling to attract sponsors and are paying the price as rugby is now firmly in the era of paying for results. To be fair to Tabard there was always a chance of coming out on top but in the first quarter they had to battle not only against the slope but also against a biting wind that helped their opponents to a quick 28 points. Tries from Wicks, Tunnicliffe (two) and Hodgkiss with four conversions from Burton gave the home side a commanding start. The wind then dropped and Tabard held their own with second rows Finnie and Stoba winning possession and wing Olatunde Okeshola embarking on a good run before he was brought down. The Tabard revival came to nothing in the first half and Cheek added a further score for the home team but, after the break, Tabard did get some joy. Centre Jack Reilly went over after scrum half Tom Smith had taken a short penalty and surged forward. The try was converted by stand off Whelan and Tabard were now on the offensive. Smith added a try of his own, after good set up play from centre Paul Gibson, second row Finnie and centre Adam Lawlor. Whelan again converted but the fight back did not last long. Tries from Wicks and Lewis made it 45-14 to the home side before Tabard ran yet another short penalty. Smith initiated the move and flanker Aaron Gilbert-Smith finished it off for the try which Whelan converted. The referee added insult to injury when he awarded Colfeians a penalty try in injury time for a Tabard misdemeanour near the line, making the final score 52-21. On Sunday Tabard go away to Watford side Fullerians, in the Herts Cup. Tabard: Redelinghuys, Okeshola, Reilly, Lawlor, Gibson, Whelan, Smith, Gelman, Gates, Lockwood, Finnie, Stoba, Buchholz (Joubert 60), Gilbert-Smith, Metcalfe.