Old Priorians 2nd XV fell to an agonising injury time defeat to Grasshoppers in MMT1 in absorbing encounter at Perivale, the visitors edging out the hosts 21-20.

Played under fine autumn skies, an excellent opening ten minutes for the Saints came with due reward ; David Jobling's darting break was enough to pierce the Grasshoppers line and cross for the first try.

The battle for possession ebbed and flowed, yet Grasshoppers were able to retain good ball and began to knock on the OPs door. Despite a strong defensive effort from the Saints, their opponents finally took their chance - and the lead - with around half an hour played.

There were penalties aplenty for both sides, and with Priorians willing to run it, once again found themselves in an attacking position towards the end of the first 40 minutes. Decent phase play set up a chance for a James Sarek pick and go, scuttling over from three metres to take the score to 10-7, neither conversion successful for the home team, but enough for a three point advantage at the break.

The balance of the play never really swung too much in either team's favour and it took a fine individual run to take Grasshoppers back into the lead, aided by cheap penalties that gave them much valued territory. Another conversion took the score to 14-10.
They then saw a shot at goal go just wide (which would have seen them go 17-10 up), which seemed to provide the Saints with fresh impetus to get back upfield. Neat, quick bands ended up going wide where James Porter - making his first appearance for the club since early 2022 - showed tremendous pace and strength for a try in the corner.

Momentum now appeared to fall to OPs and it didn't take long for captain Will Poyntz to get in on the action, cutting a neat line for his first five points of the season - his side now 20-14 up with a little over ten minutes to go.

A tense finale was set and it duly delivered. Tired legs and an increasing degree of indiscipline crept into OPRFC ranks, Grasshoppers edging their way towards the whitewash.

Held up with two minutes to go, the clearance then began the final stage of the afternoon ; battering and battering forwards, the Isleworth outfit finally received the prize they so wantonly craved, a try under the posts as the clock ticked well into the red.

With the pressure all on the kicker to win the fixture, it was taken with aplomb despite the valiant efforts from the Saints to charge it down, Grasshoppers jubilant as they took the six points with a 21-20 win.

There was agreement amongst the OPs squad that this was a game they should have won, only to be hoisted by their own petard. This serves no discredit to Grasshoppers, whose physicality and determination across the 80 minutes proved to be the key ingredients in their victory.

Priorians are at home once again next week, as their closest neighbours, Ealing 1871, make the short trip to Perivale.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Jobling, Sarek, Porter, Poyntz