An excellent team performance from the Saints saw them run out 47-26 winners against a strong Quintin side, with fly half Chris Flavell scoring a hat trick on his debut.

On a hot and humid September afternoon at Perivale, it was the visitors who started the better, getting the first try of the day early on to establish a 5-0 lead. OPs hit back quickly, some strong carries into the 22 allowing Charlie Page the chance to cut through and score.

Quintin came right back and after pegging Priorians back on their own line found the breakthrough, the tight phases in the forwards paying off to make it 12-5.

Slowly building momentum from the restart, a well judged kick over the top from centre Will Clarke was taken by Dan Taylor, making the pass to Cian McBride who was able to dive over as the Saints looked to take control. Flavell then got the two of his three late in the half, the latter an interception that saw him race 75 metres to go in under the posts - OPs leading 28-12 at the break with a bonus point already theirs.

The opposition continued to show signs of life in the second half and were first on the scoresheet, the front eight putting in the hard work once more to force through more points and reduce the arrears to nine points.

However, the difference in fitness began to tell as the match went on and a typically powerful break from Page in the midfield saw him cross for his second minutes later. The Saints continued to cause problems all over the pitch, much in part due to effective rucking, and it was Flavell who eventually set up winger Elliot Lycett to ease in at the corner and effectively end the fixture as a content at 42-19 up.

Flavell's completed his hat trick with another classy break before Quintin managed a consolation try with five minutes to go, enough to give them a scoring bonus point, as OPRFC finished the game 47-26 victors.

Potentially one of the best performances in the last two seasons, there were a number of standouts in the Saints ranks on Saturday afternoon - Flavell and Page among them, along with captain Samuel Green's assiduous efforts at the breakdown, but Player of the Match went to flanker Jordan Porteous who was fearless across the 80 minutes in both attack and defence.

The 2nd XV travel to Chiswick next Saturday to play London Scottish Lions.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Page 2, McBride, Flavell 3, Lycett

C : Uribe 6