Fullerians have enjoyed a great preseason with friendlies against Harrow, Tring and Belsize but now the season starts in earnest. On a sunny afternoon it was the veteran second row Malcolm Harrison who opened the scoring after the forward pack picked and drove over the line.

The lead could have been extended further only for the last pass going to ground but the writing was on the wall as Fullerians moved the ball around to tire the big Cantabrigian pack.

Fullers did extend their lead after some great movement by the Fullers back line saw wing Liam Mann in space to score under the posts. Moments later it was the other wing Tom Williams who backed himself and used his pace to score in the corner.

The fourth and final try of the first half was after some lovely offloading by the Fullers back row who then linked well with the backline and the ever present Shaun Smith was on hand to finish the move.

Cantabs got themselves back in the game as their impressive lineout and subsequent catch and drive got moving for a well-deserved score before the break.

In the second half Fullers continued to put pressure on the Cantabs line but were not clinical enough and the opportunity went missing. In fact it was the home side who scored again as Fullers were caught out of position and dropped off the tackles.

Fullers went back to that quick pace game that the home side struggled with. Scrum half Tom Sherriff took a quick tap penalty on the half way line and linked with his back line and was on hand again to finish off his own quick thinking under the posts.

Cantabs scored again from the lineout and drove Fullers over but it was the visitors who had the last say when wing Tom Williams scored his second after a kick and chase and he outpaced the covering defence to gather his own kick through to finish the game.

“It was a good performance at times today but we could have been much more clinical. The league starts next week and many guys have put their hand up making selection difficult next week.” commented Fullerians new assistant coach David Neale.

Team. Holby, McPhail, Bushell (Trybus 40), Perry, Harrison, Barrett ©, Redler, Harvey, Cummins (Sherriff 40), Jacobs (Toon 50), Williams, Smith, Duncan, Mann, Evans.

Man of the Match: Ben Redler