Old Priorians assured themselves of a place in the end of season promotion playoffs with a hard earned win against Teddington, coming from behind to beat their Regional 2 Thames rivals.

A fast start for OPs saw them quickly work their way up to the Teddington line, Cathal Sheehan's clever break the catalyst for points with Funbi Osuntoki crashing over a couple of phases later, Charlie Harte converting for a 7-0 lead within the first five minutes. Two yellow cards for the Twisters - coming within minutes of each other - allowed the hosts to get themselves back into the fixture, though were unable to breach a solid Priorians defence until the 20th minute as a gap in the backline was well exploited.

OPRFC then nudged ahead once more despite being two players down through Charlie Harte's long range penalty, with the side also doing well to retain possession in a decidedly difficult period of the match. They were then successfully buiding towards another score, only for a pass to go to ground that resulted in a devastating counter-attack from the Antlers that was finished with aplomb, Rory Gaffney's brave last-ditch tackle in vain. The conversion was missed, the score now at 12-10 and half time on the horizon, OPs now back up to their full quota of players.

The basis of the home side's first half success was hard work and strong tackling which continued to disrupt Old Priorians in the early stages of the second half as bright moves were seen off ; indeed, Teddington were rewarded for continued endeavour with a penalty from a scrum that was kicked into the 22 for a lineout, driven forward before a fantastic one handed pass from scrum half Will Mavin went into the grateful grasp of prop Hal Dare who had no trouble crossing the line to extend the lead out to seven points.

Spaces and cracks were beginning to appear and it was Sheehan again who made a wonderful run up into enemy territory, quick ball allowing Gaffney time to spot Timmy Oyinlola on the wing, a crossfield kick well taken and then brilliantly finished as parity was restored with around 25 minutes to play.

In what proved to be a decisive moment in the game, Teddington were awarded a penalty metres out from the Priorians line and rather than electing to kick for goal, backed themselves to go for the try. A scrum was taken, but the Twisters hustled and bustled their way into stealing the ball, removing the threat of danger.

The momentum shift truly came in the last fifteen minutes of play. The threatening carries of centres Ethan Wetherell and Barney Morris, along with creeping indiscipline from Teddington, saw OPs head back into opposition 22. A quick tap from Gaffney was then carried in by the forwards, the manful attempts at stopping Mishka Fibbens all for naught as he managed to ground the ball and put the Twisters into the ascendancy.

A well fielded kick off followed by Stefan Tsang's bullocking run was then carried forward, whereupon David Howe was able to get the bonus point try and perhaps kill the game as a contest with the last ten minutes lurching into view, Harte maintaining a perfect record for the day and make it 31-17 towards the final stages.

Teddington were able to get their fourth of the afternoon too, a well worked set move from the scrum going wide to winger Tom Williams who did very well to outstrip the defence and score, but the missed conversion and lack of time was ultimately too much for them to work with and the match ended with OPRFC attacking the line, Fibbens going over once more but adjudged to have ran into his own man. The full time whistle blew soon after and the match ended 31-22.

An old-fashioned and physical encounter, this was a compelling game of rugby, the eventual scoreline not entirely reflective of the 80 minutes ; the excellent efforts of Teddington in the first half may well have been their undoing, as there was a definite change of pace in favour of Priorians within the last quarter, able to take advantage of tired legs to motor away after locking horns with the determined Antlers for a good part of the fixture.

The result sees Old Priorians make sure of both at least a fourth place finish in Regional 2 Thames, as well as a spot in the end of season promotion playoffs. There is now a two week break before they resume league action at home to fellow playoff chasers Aylesbury.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Osuntoki, Oyinlola, Fibbens, Howe

C : Harte 4

P : Harte