.... glorious mud. The West London Wasps were not expecting anything less. But North London has the capacity to surprise us and so after torrential overnight rain we made our way around the North Circular to be greeted by sunshine, good hospitality and a cracking match of rugby.

Fifteen hardy souls made the trek and fifteen bloodied men completed the match.

The opening spell was not the call that our boys needed. "A giant centre....there he goes...... let's miss some tackles and let him score........." Quite frankly the supporters and coaches were not sure how 'our boys' would respond.

The answer was quick, incisive, and match changing: quick ball from the base of the scrum, fast hands, miss-pass and Adeola was in under the posts. The remainder of the first half was evenly balanced, a single conversion was the only lead that our boys quickly put on the score card....... but the second half was a revelation. Time and time again the rumble went on, Benedict, Ben and Joseph picking, taking, and crashing through the first tackle. "Quick ball" cried George and the number eight, Zac duly obliged before once again a scorching move from the committed backs ensured that the opposition were well stuck in their own half. Finchley had to resort to playing the percentage game
and chose the wrong statistics to follow: countless times the opposition line out was snaffled by the highest climber, Simran; every scrum was hooked against the head by Sam, and Harry and Alfie at centre always took the right option - kick, pass, miss or switch; the opposition never knew what to expect.

The team was sensing victory, the boys were growing in stature and bodies were placed on the line. Jed at full-back made try-saving tackles and Tristan, carrying a knock from the first half, once again got in the way of their most fearsome set of forwards. Magnus and Callum (Michael Jones and Peter Winterbottom) kept punching through the rucks to win quick ball and in the most elegant move of the match the ball went through the hands to the wing for another try under the posts. David's conversion allowed the team to smell the winning post, and although Finchley managed one more try the winning margin of nine points was well-deserved.

At the end of the match the rain arrived as a reminder of days gone by when Wasps teams left empty-handed. Not so today! "And gentlemen in England now a-bed, Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks, That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

Man of the match went to Alfie for decision-making and flawless execution.