GAB 2s (2 from 5) travelled down the A34 to take on Harwell (3 from 5) for what promised to live to up to recent high scoring contests between the two sides (both teams have normally got a try bonus in recent encounters).

The high scoring potential was underlined when GAB scored first and scored early. Debutant 15 Teifion Jones shifting the ball out to winger Matt Strong for him to dive over in the corner. (0-5).

Hoping that might be a momentum starter, GAB instead let Harwell get the ascendancy for the next 20min, conceding 3 scores (including one hail mary of an offload hopefully caught by Harwell's VEO camera) to have the score at 17-5.

Cowed, but not defeated, GAB played their way back into the contest and after Aaron Ruazol was held up, scrummie Rob Eynon reacted quickest to the advantage penalty to change the direction of play towards the unmarked Andrew Schwarz who dived over in the opposite corner to Matt's earlier score. Tom Morgan (impressing on his guest appearance from Faringdon) sent the conversion over. 17-12

After a lapse in concentration at a Harwell pen allowed their 9 to create something out of nothing (22-12) GAB's next score was all about power. First flanker Rufus Kinsey (playing his last game before re-locating to Leeds) had a monster carry up the midfield, from the next ruck fly half Tom Morgan used colts winger Harris Pearce Bates (making his senior debut and not showing any signs of veing overwhelmed) as his foil to sit the Harwell fullback down and go under the posts before easily converting. No further scores left matters 22-19 at halftime and nicely poised.

The 2nd half started even better than the first and after a great carry from Sam Parsons up the middle from the kick off, half backs Rob Eynon & Tom Morgan made the space for Teifion Jones to go over for his debut try, secure the try bonus point and put GAB into the lead for the 2nd time 22-24.

Sadly, that's where it ended in terms of scoring for GAB, and despite being very much in the competition until beyond the hour mark, Harwell scored a hatful of late tries when GAB had run out of energy. Final score 57-24

Special mentions to:
Harris Pearce Bates - great senior debut and worked off his wing as well looking for the ball. One excellent kick off collection ruined when a 2nd rower decided to try and pass later in the move... He joins Aaron Ruazol as a recent colt graduate and hopefully will kick on as Aaron has to be a great asset to the side
Dan Porter - first game back in many many years and managed to not give a pen away
Tom Morgan - thanks to Faringdon for letting us borrow him - controlled his backline well and got a deserved try
Teifion Jones - strong debut at the back, making a load of try saving tackles, an assist and with the pace to finish his score.
Ed Clark & Sam Parsons - big carries and big tackles. Both missed when injuries got the better of them
Rufus Kinsey - would have been PotM had he made it to the pub for match teas...
Rob Eynon - Tap Social Player of the Match playing out of position at 9.

Scorers:
M Strong 1T
A Schwarz 1T
T Morgan 1T, 2C
T Jones 1T