Hampstead 27

Old Gaytonians 24

Gaytonians gave a real Jekyll and Hyde performance before going down narrowly at mid-table Hampstead, despite a brave second-half recovery.

The first-half display by the visitors was unbelievably inept, despite a blustering strong wind in their favour, which they managed to totally disregard.

They were continually hustled off the ball by an eager Hampstead pack, and compounded their misery by poor handling and uncertain tackling.

Inevitably the home side took advantage, scoring three tries and a covnersion for a 17-0 lead that put them almost out of sight.

But shortly before half-time skipper Macleod came on as a replacment, despite carrying an ankle injury, and lifted Gaytonians.

After a splendid surge by hooker Spelman, MacLeod enabled full-back Nancarrow to crash over for an unconverted try, reducing the deficit to 5-17 at the break.

On the resumption, Gaytonians began their magnificent fightback and the game was transformed.

With Macleod to the fore, they swarmed into Hampstead territory and, for the first time, began consistently to break the gain line.

One of several powerful forward drives carried flanker Hogan over the try line for a touch down, converted by Fallon, 12-17.

The pressure was maintained and only desperate defending kept Gaytonians at bay.

To their credit, the home side counter-attacked strongly and, after a series of tapped penalties, were awarded a dubious penalty try, duly converted, to put them 24-12 ahead against the run of play.

But resurgent Gaytonians were not outdone and after persistent forward pressure, with Spelman outstanding, Macleod punctured the Hampstead defence with a fine try to make it 17-24.

Despite a Hamsptead penalty extending their lead, Gaytonians swept back again, and Hogan broke through for his second try, converted by Fallon, to put Gaytonians agonisingly close at 24-27.

And though Gayts maintained the pressure until the end, there was no further score and no reward for that remarkable recovery.

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