It was just the sheer delight of playing that thrilled St Albans Centurions Rugby League Club’s masters side – as they battled it out against their Silverbacks counterparts.

The Cents players joined forces with colleagues from Aldershot & Fleet and Halcyons clubs to form a rest of the world side against the Silverbacks in one of eight matches taking place on the same day at the London Skolars’ event.

Cents’ Mick O’Shea said: “It was sometimes end to end stuff and sometimes close quarters but it was enjoyable throughout.

“And it proved to be a very tight game that ended, as is tradition, at 0-0.

“It was a strictly social over 35s version of the game and we even had Jamie Slater from Harpenden Rugby Club playing with his glasses on throughout.”

Anyone who would like to join the masters side should email Mick O’Shea on muckyshoe@hotmail.com or call 07989 898 842.