Pre-Season Friendly St Albans Centurions 42 Hainault Bulldogs 16 ST Albans Centurions proved too strong for Hainault Bulldogs with a second half blitz that saw them finish as comfortable winners on Sunday.

Pre-Season Friendly

St Albans Centurions 42 Hainault Bulldogs 16

ST Albans Centurions proved too strong for Hainault Bulldogs with a second half blitz that saw them finish as comfortable winners on Sunday.

In the final friendly game before the season starts on Saturday, April 26, coach Shane Rampling fielded a squad of 20 players and was able to have a good look at some of the youngsters who are forcing their way into the senior side as well as other players who have returned to the club. Sunday's line-up included Dan Hensby, back on the wing after active service with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan.

The Centurions were never behind in a game they steadily controlled until finally overpowering their Essex opponents.

Adam Cox opened the scoring after only five minutes with a well-worked try after Hainault had conceded a series of penalties. Pete Chapman added the goal from in front of the sticks. Hainault briefly threatened the St Albans defence but twice lost the ball near the line and, on 25 minutes, the Cents stretched their lead to 10-0 when Chris True touched down in the right-hand corner as the ball came from the scrum and was moved swiftly along the line by Richard Smith and Shane Rampling.

The next period of the game belonged to Hainault Bulldogs as they levelled the score with two tries.

Just before half time, Richard Smith grabbed an opportunist try, going over from a quick play after a penalty.

The second half started very well for St Albans when, after good work by James Sach and Pete Chapman, Dave Hancock scored in the left corner.

The Bulldogs hit back with a converted try under the posts. That, however, was the extent of their resistance and for the rest of the match it was one-way traffic as the Centurions ran in five more unanswered tries.

First Kristian Warner grabbed an excellent individual try, jinking through the Hainault defence after good work from Nick Surtees. Then Dan Hensby marked his return with one down the left flank, followed by another from Miles Dempsey.

Unfortunately, the Cents were unable to convert any of them. The absence of a reliable goalkicker will no doubt be worrying Coach Rampling.

The Cents were now in complete control, perhaps demonstrated by the next score, an extraordinary solo effort from Lewis Padmore, who went fully 60 metres, evading four or five tackles for a brilliant score. Dave Hancock added the goal.

The last try of the match and the second for Chris True came after another burst from Padmore, good yards from Rampling and another barnstorming run from Miles Dempsey.

It was a very satisfactory afternoon for the Centurions.

St Albans Centurions: Hancock, True, Cornthwaite, M. Dempsey, Hensby, Rampling, K. Warner, Barnes, Cox, Surtees, P. Chapman, Padmore, Rayner, Weldon, Sach, M. Chapman, Smith, R. Dempsey, Maloney, N. Fountain.