An ultimately clinical first half performance from Old Priorians Saints saw off the threat of Twickenham II at Perivale, the hosts coming away with maximum points as they return to winning ways in Middlesex Merit Table Division 1.

Twickenham took the lead in the opening minute of the game, a cruel bounce from a kick through flummoxing the OPs cover, allowing the visitors to gather back the ball and run in unchallenged under the posts to make it 7-0.

OPs quickly advanced back into their opponents 22, a number of productive carries from the forwards leading to Adam Gurdikyan bundling over from short range. The Saints were able to carry that momentum forward, the next try coming from fly-half Chris Flavell's quick thinking, piercing through a dithering defence from a tap and go penalty to make it four tries in two games in his first season at the club. Cian McBride converted to make it 12-7.

With both sides lacking a little in tackling discipline, Twickenham brought the gap back to three points via a penalty in front of the posts around 30 metres out. Any sense of being back in the game quickly vanished as Priorians continued to play quick phases ; good work from the lineout set the platform for Samuel Green to power over for his first try of 2024/25 to establish a nine point lead.

The difference in fitness levels began to show towards the end of the first half as the Saints continued to mount attacks, playing fluid rugby despite the wet and slippery conditions. A fine move put Elliot Lycett into space for a score in the corner, Gurdikyan grabbing his brace before the 40 minute mark to give OPs an impressive 33-10 lead at half time.

A front row injury forced the Saints to play the second half with fourteen men as the scrums went uncontested ; the game petered out somewhat, Twickenham getting the only points in this period as a degree of complacency may have crept into the OPs ranks, leading to a fairly unremarkable 40 minutes for both teams.

Regardless, a 33-17 win at home for Priorians in difficult conditions ought be seen as a well earned victory, against a stubborn and physical opposition. There were a number of good performances, with Adam Gurdikyan receiving the EMF Contracting Limited Player of the Match award for his two tries and general efforts around the park.

Another home fixture awaits next week, with Grasshoppers making the short trip to Perivale.

OPRFC 2nd XV SCORERS

T : Gurdikyan 2, Flavell, S Green, Lycett

C : McBride 4