Hendon 15

Civil Service 25

Hendon's defeat by mid-table Civil Service on Saturday condemned them to relegation to the Herts/Middlesex League Division Two.

After Hendon elected to play uphill, there were early indications that this match would follow the pattern of previous games as they went two scores adrift, through an early penalty and a good threequarter run that sliced through their below strength three-quarters.

Then Hendon's large pack clicked into action, and from an upfield kick Gormley won the lineout and Alan Butler was driven over the line to score from the Civil Service 22.

But the civil servants hit back immediately, exploiting poor defensive strategy for an easy try to make it 5-13.

Pressure by Hendon led to several penalties that were not kicked, and CS broke away for another try, converted to extend their lead to 20-5.

Hendon's forward dominance led to another penalty, which they ran, Ryan looping for the return pass to put winger Joe Walsh in for their second try, 10-20.

Then another defensive error allowed CS another simple try, before Ryan intercepted and scored under the posts to complete the scoring.

But it was too little too late, and the Dons were left doomed to the drop.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.