Fixture

The last game for St Albans was away to Cowbridge, on a Monday evening, two days after the Buns’ Club Dinner.  With the original fixture being rained off and a further late postponement, again the visitors were struggling to assemble a squad.  The return of Nad Butt, Gareth Whitehouse and Nathan ‘Smiler’ Hayde and Luke Gibson was a boost to the Buns.  Adding ‘old boys’ to the likes of regulars, such as Adam Gardiner, Josh Price, Adnam Omar, Luke Doherty, Max Hart, Nicky Kelly and Mike Thomas gave St Albans cause for optimism.

Cowbridge had suffered two recent bad injuries – and the Buns asked that their best wishes be passed on to players concerned.  For the rearranged fixture, Cowbridge were able to call on some of their exceptional Youth talent and a fast game was guaranteed.  From the kick off it was clear that Cowbridge wanted to keep ball in hand & the Buns replied in kind.  A fast, loose, entertaining game followed with both sides having their moments.  Cowbridge’s strike power behind was always likely to prevail – but the Buns’ all round game kept them very much in the game.  Like the Taffs Well game, St Albans kept playing and late in the Second Half got level with Cowbridge at 26 each.  Buns tries were scored by xxx, the permitted Josh Dunleavy, Nathan Hayde and a first ever Buns try for Luke Doherty.  Mike Thomas added the kicks.

Cowbridge’s two late converted tries gave them a deserved victory – but the St Albans’ performance  probably deserved an additional bonus point to the point secured.

All at St Albans were very grateful to the boys for their end of season effort.  Results might have been mixed but there were signs that improvement was happening at both a team and individual level.

The Club hopes that all players have a great Summer, enjoy their holidays, and look forward to seeing returning faces in mid-July for pre-season training.