OLD ALBANIANS broke the trend of tight matches between themselves and Old Verulamians, as they demolished local rivals 41-0.

In last season's corresponding fixture, Vees took the honours with a single-point victory, and looked to end a disappointing sequence of results against an OA side that has had its own problems of late.

The game started tentatively, with both sides content to probe in the relative safety of the middle third of the pitch.

Consequently, for the first half an hour there was little to separate the two sides apart from the relative accuracy of the teams' kickers.

Three minutes into the match, Vees were penalised on their 22 for not releasing in a ruck. Full-back Harries, playing his last match for OAs before a year-long sabbatical in New Zealand, coolly slotted the penalty.

A minute later Vees were again penalised, this time for interfering with the jumper at a lineout. Once again Harries stepped up to convert a difficult penalty, putting OAs 6 points ahead.

However, twice Vees had the opportunity to get on the scoreboard for infringements at the ruck, but on each occassion they failed to capitalise.

As the match wore on, OAs began to assert their authority and launched a series of attacks deep into Vees territory. With the forwards maintaining continuity in possession and the backs beginning to make incisive breaks, the home defence were struggling to keep their opponents at bay,and were eventually caught offside at a ruck, allowing Harries to extend the lead to 9-0.

Just before the break, Vees missed another penalty to complete the story of the half that of kicks missed and kicks converted.

However, little from the first half offered an indication of the onslaught that was to follow.

The OAs made a bright start to the half, with Sean Southwood featuring prominently in several early attacks, and although he regularly broke through the first line of defence, the OAs were slow to recycle the ball at the breakdown, allowing time for the Vees defence to regroup.

The first try should have come from a line-out deep in the Vees' half. Prop Jason Bowers nearly battered his way over, but good tackling and a handling error allowed Vees to clear.

Shortly afterwards, though, an offside decision allowed Harries to extend the lead to 12-0.

From the restart, three good rucks, broken by a penetrating run from Harries, led to Aaron Johnson receiving good ball on the wing and, despite the Vees defence around him, he scythed through three tackles to score under the posts.

Harries conversion made it 19-0 and from here the home side were cut to ribbons.

Sean Southwood nearly touched down a flowing move through the backs before Harries, making up for his first missed penatly, strolled over in the corner.

Vees briefly threatened but Southwood relieved the pressure before a converted John Davy try made it 31-0.

Nicky Miller and Nick Rowe added further tries to complete the rout.

December 14, 2001 12:00