A well organised and efficient Hampstead II saw off a underpar Old Priorians Saints at Wasps FC on Saturday, the nominal hosts judging the atrocious conditions well to come away 31-10 victors and end the unbeaten start to the season for OPs.

Played in wind and rain from the first whistle, the Saints looked much the better in the opening quarter, able to keep Hampstead in their own half as one good phases after another was put together ; the breakthrough came via centre Ben Page,a well worked team try with the forwards moving the ball up to the line via a rolling maul before releasing the ball out into the midfield where the powerful Page was able to wrestle himself over.

Hampstead took advantage of a number of OPRFC errors as the half went on, however ; a mix of tight, well controlled pick and goes along with good handling put them into the lead through two neat tries, ending the half 19-5 ahead after Priorians spilled the ball forward, gathering possession on the halfway before setting the wing into space against a helpless defence.

OPs started the second half much the same as the first but weren't able to make many inroads against a stubborn and tough Hampstead defence. Their two second half scores came through yet more disarray in the away backline, the slippery ball proving problematic at a number of important junctures as the North-West London club took the try bonus point around the hour mark.

A strong finish from the Saints - pummelling at the Hampstead line for the last ten minutes of the match - saw Ariah Joseph rewarded with his second try of the season, but it was too late to bring his side back into the game as the final whistle blew with a 31-10 scoreline.

The result does not fully reflect the narrative of the 80 minutes - Hampstead were simply more clinical when chances to score presented themselves and did well to click into gear in such difficult weather ; OPs will rue some of the missed opportunities but will also be aware that a number of players were out of position.

The result keeps the Saints top of the MMT1 table, with their next fixture away to Quintin on the 7th November.

OPRFC Scorers

T : B Page, Joseph