Old Streetonians clinch third successive promotion after victory over Old Hamptonians
Old Streetonians were crowned champions of London III North West on Saturday after four tries from Colin McAndrew helped the visitors stage a superb second-half comeback to beat old Hamptonians 36-20
Old Streetonians were crowned champions of London III North West on Saturday after four tries from Colin McAndrew helped the visitors stage a superb second-half comeback to beat old Hamptonians 36-20.
The east London side started well, with the centres engineering a half gap for McAndrew to exploit. The Flying Scotsman squirted between tacklers to finish from 40 metres out under the posts.
At this point Old Street went on to concede 20 unanswered points in the remainder of the half.
Missed tackles were the prime culprit, Street seemingly missing the nous and muscle of an experienced back row, as their fringes were breached with ease.
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Too much possession was kicked away and a lack of aggression at the breakdown, combined for one of the worst periods of play Street have produced all season.
Street came out a different side after the break and went on to score 29 unanswered points of their own.
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The front five was embarrassingly dominant at scrum and lineout, and number eight Gibson rampaging through tacklers from the back.
Two quick tries after the break from McAndrew, one set up by the superbly quick hands of Mackay in the right corner, eased the nerves a little
Goss was next over, after some good support play from Douglas and Fountain, and it was left to McAndrew to seal the victory with a another score in the right corner.
In the 80th minute, from another strong scrum, Georganas kicked the ball into touch, and the celebrations could begin.
Champagne, supplied by self-elected Lifetime President Dicky Stringer, was supped on the sidelines, as Street contemplated what they had achieved - a third promotion and second championship in three consecutive seasons.
"We're going to go out tonight, we're going to eat and we're going to drink," said coach David Bailey.
"It's a great achievement, I'm very proud of the boys. Not just in the first team, but right throughout our three teams. It's been a real club effort, and that includes players, coaches and all the others who support the club from behind the scenes," added captain Nick Barham.
Old Streetonians: Wollaston, Mackay, Perkins (O'Shea 60), Fountain, Cooper, Barham, Douglas (Webster 75), Gibson, Georganas, Ingleby, McAndrew, Dunn, Goss, Perry (60), Massie.
