Old Priorians were beaten for the first time in 2026 on the final day of the regular league season, as Harpenden sealed a double over the Twisters despite a remarkable late fightback from the hosts that almost saw them snatch victory at the last.

OPs had a bright beginning on a fine afternoon in West London, the early momentum paying off as Rory Gaffney crossed for his twelfth try of the campaign following a maul from the lineout, doing well to reach over in the corner for the first score. The lead was short lived ; a penalty conceded from the restart allowed Harpenden to move up into the opposition 22, choosing to drive forward before a strong carry from second row Jacob Jefferis was enough for them to cross the line, the try converted to move ahead 7-5 with a little under fifteen minutes played.

Promising attacks from Priorians were brought to a halt very much by their own hand, with knock ons and penalties putting paid to any apparent progress down the pitch. OPs were crooked at the lineout on their own 22, Harpenden choosing to attack the line via the same method which proved to be effective with hooker Pete Sims peeling from the back of the maul and score, Stagg unable to convert but the lead extended as play entered the second quarter.

An immediate response from the Twisters brought them back to within two points, Cathal Sheehan doing well to juggle a return kick that set a slick, quick move into action that was finished by centre Josh Chippendale. This proved to be where things fell apart in the half for OPRFC, however, as Harpenden's general superiority at the set piece became ever more apparent the deeper the two teams went into the half. OPs once again spurned chances and handed the onus back to the visitors, their well drilled backs causing all sorts of chaos from two scrums late on that saw two tries for a 26-10 lead at the break.

A good start to the second half for Old Priorians paid no dividends in terms of points on the board, despite pinning Harpenden back in their own half for the majority of the first quarter, unable to exact the same clinical level that has been so evident this calendar year. Indeed, the game appeared to be over as a content on 63 minutes as a spilled pass gifted the Hertfordshire outfit an easy run in to secure their fifth try of the day and stretch out into a 33-10 advantage, a seemingly unassailable lead heading into the final fifteen minutes of play.

But it would be churlish to ever write off this Priorians side ; with Harpenden visibly tiring and injuries beginning to mount, the Twisters began to find themselves in good positions, aided by penalties conceded by their opponents in areas that were ripe for scoring. Gaffney's decisive tap penalty on 68 minutes saw Funbi Osuntoki make a huge carry to within five metres of the line, Guy Djedje waiting in support to finish off the move under the posts, Charlie Harte converting.

Harpenden continued to concede penalty after penalty and once again OPs were back in attacking zones. Osuntoki followed his assist up with a magnificent try of his own, powerfully piercing the defensive backline like an Exocet, showing rapid pace to race in near the posts for the try of the day. A high wind picked up as the conversion was taken, leading to Harte's effort drifting wide and the deficit eleven points with seven minutes to play.

The clock continued to tick on and there was little Harpenden could do to stop the now irresistible force of OPRFC, who were beginning to atone for their tepid first half display. Gaffney had yet another chance to tap and go, putting the ball into the hands of Barney Morris who had Timmy Oyinlola waiting outside him as he went over for his fourth 1st XV of 2025/26. Another missed conversion, but nothing short of a grandstand finished awaited the sides with just two minutes to go.

OPs did well to win the ball back from the resulting restart, and were punishing tired Harpenden legs ; Will Curd - off the bench for his Twisters debut - made a devastating break into the 22, a fairy tale start to his first team career beckoning as Sheehan waited in support, only for the ball to be turned over by some excellent Harpenden snaffling, turning the ball over and kicking it out of play to end the fixture on a note of high drama, 33-27 the final score.

Harpenden ought be given plenty of credit for the way they finished their moves and for punishing mistakes, but Priorians were largely victims of their own demise on Saturday afternoon, with all five tries coming from either handling errors (including lineouts) or penalties. Yet, they matched the opposition in terms of tries scored and ultimately the result came down to missed kicks, the often blustery conditions definitely a factor.

This means OPRFC finish third in the league and now face Belsize Park in the first round of the Promotion Play-Offs next Saturday at the same venue. Furthermore, they end the regular league season having score the most points for in their history - 856 - and the most league points accrued at Level 6 - 85. Third is also their best league finish ever.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Gaffney, Chippendale, Djedje, Osuntoki, Oyinlola

C : Harte