With a strong squad - a large number of would be 2s regulars playing with the 3s this weekend - GAB would have expected to score some good tries, but all the talk post match was around the defence in the last 15-20 min keeping out a determined and ever improving Didcot side from crossing the whitewash.

GAB defended well the whole game, but the first hour was more scrambled defence and great breakdown work, before the Didcot train kept hammering away at GAB lines with consistent phases and strong carries. All the more impressive as the game was truly won by this point, but bodies were put on the line time and again. Credit must go to Didcot for that determination at the end as they had suffered a few injuries during the game as well.

But back to the first hour - the first score came from quick thinking by the GAB 10, who took a quick pen on the Didcot 5m line and with the Didcot players not retreating, the ref awarded a penalty try, advantage not being played stopping Dickie Tyler determined drive over the line from counting. This would be the only one of the 7 tries that Alfie Morton didn't convert (as the extra points are automatic) in what was a great day with the boot for the man in the last days of his teens. 0-7

The next score came from free flowing rugby playing with the advantage for a high tackle, the ball finding its way to Danny Rae who ducked and dived his way to the line, dragged down short but not held so dived forward the last foot to get the score. Alfie added the extras. 0-14

GAB were beginning to grow into the game and accuracy was improving. They were making good headway with carries from the forwards, with debutant Jamie Livermore prominent, and supported well by Gerardo Pradillo (who was a terrier all game), Dickie Tyler and Tom Bates. Coupled with GAB's half backs using the wind to good effect and the kick chasing by the back three of Marc Grant, Kay McLauchlan and Danny Rae being supreme, this meant territory was all in the men in black's favour.

It was the pressure brought on by the territory that forced a rushed kick by Didcot. Well collected by Nathan McCarthy he ran over a couple of defenders before Sonny Bill-ing it out of the back door to Rob Eynon who finished off. Another con from Alfie made the score 0-21

The fly half was next on the score sheet after some great phase play had GAB close to line and the cut out pass from Alfie was picked up by Eynon who darted over line near the posts. Alfie did his thing again for 0-28.

The last score of the half was after the back as some scrum dominance - no matter which 8 was on the park, GAB were making ground with each set piece, and it was pressure on a Didcot scrum under their posts that saw the ball squirt out and Alfie Morton react quickest to dive on the loose ball. Converting his own try made the half time score 0-35

Second half saw some changes in personnel but no change in quality or determination. More of that territorial game saw GAB again getting close and after Didcot left too much space beside a ruck, Alfie Morton darted over for his second score and 5th conversion. 0-42

Didcot were growing into the game by now and were repelling GAB's attacks. More play was happening around the half way line rather than fully in Didcot's half and so GAB were unable to make the best of any half breaks for a while. There was time, however, for a yellow card for Stuie Fouracre after the referee's patience with tackles beginning to get a little high ran out. Whilst down to 14 GAB did score their try when determination by Marc Grant (now back into his more familiar centre role), saw him ride some tackles, break a couple more before getting clear to get over the line. Alfie's conversion would be the last points of the half. 0-49

We then get onto the defensive effort mentioned at the start. Big hits were going in everywhere (Aaron Ruazol hit someone so hard their boot came off!), and the team never lost shape, no matter how many phases Didcot went through or how they tried to break the GAB line down.

By the time the ref blew the final whistle, it was a well earned bagel and a magnificent seven tries. All in all a great day at the office, even before you add on that there were 40 players turning out for the 1s & 3s back at GAB as well, followed by 20 in the colts squad on the Sunday going down by just a point at Witney.

Final Score Didcot 2s 0 - 49 Gosford All Blacks 2s

Tap Social Man of the Match - Gerardo Pradillo for his tireless running, tackling and disruption out of position on the flank.

Scorers:
Penalty Try 1T
Danny Rae 1T
Rob Eynon 2T
Alfie Morton 2T 6C
Marc Grant 1T