LONDON CIVIL SERVICE VETERANS (FEZ) 10pts,

Ledbury XV 41pts

LEDBURY travelled to London fairly certain that this year's match was going to be very close.

They were fielding three untried youngsters, plus about half a dozen players who had not really played this season.

However, the balance of the team consisted of some very seasoned campaigners.

The first quarter of the match was very even, with neither side giving away much, although the home team seemed to have the edge in the scrummages, where Chapman's front row were having a torrid time initially.

Despite this, Ledbury began to build some very good attacks. With the pack smashing the home side off the ball at rucks and mauls, it was Ally Smith who found a big hole in the home defence and streaked over from 40 metres out. Ledbury also realised that the home team's line-out was poor and Allen Dixon and John Wilesmith were able to win virtually everything, slowly turning the game their way.

Tara Barnett crashed over from five metres after a quickly-taken penalty by Jack Wilesmith, which Elkington converted.

Ledbury finished the first half with a flourish, with Denver Rollings scoring after a well-taken front peel.

FEZ usually come back well in the third quarter, but on this occasion, Ledbury pinned them in their own half, without the obvious option of kicking for touch, due to Ledbury's complete control in the line-outs.

FEZ fly half Martin Wallace tried to run out defence, but the centre pairing of Williams and Butler proved impregnable.

Ledbury notched up two further tries which effectively put the game out of reach - good support play from Beeching gave Tara Barnett his second try. Then a desperate attempt by FEZ centre Spike Stevens to run out of his own 22 was ended with a some great covering, allowing Butler to pounce on a free ball to score.

Against the run of play FEZ did manage to open their account, when for the first time in the game, Martin Wallace moved the ball out wide, allowing Stevens to touch down.

FEZ did seem to raise their game for a the next 10 minutes but, despite the brave efforts of flankers Nunn and Arney, the Ledbury pack were on song. Butler was able to score a beautifully worked try, slicing through the home defence on the halfway line and sprinting the rest of the way to touch down.

FEZ gained further consolation when they scored again, but Martin Wallace was unable to convert.

James Pugh completed the Ledbury scoring sailing round the home defence to touch down under the posts.

Ledbury had not expected to find their hosts so accommodating this year and despite the presence of three rookies - Clive Chapman, Andrew Beeching and Jack Wilesmith - they came away with one of the biggest margins of victory since the fixture began.

The Ledbury XV then made their way the Cardinal Vaughan car park at Twickenham, to enjoy LRFC president Johnny Edwards' most excellent hospitality.