ST ALBANS RFC will feel hard done by this week after getting far less than they probably deserved from a determined display against London Scottish at the weekend.

The hard work the team has put in on the training ground looked like it would bare fruit, as the Saints drove forward from early in the game.

Their enterprise rewarded the home side with numerous attacking passages of play, but all too often these broke up against the streetwise Scottish defence.

However, the defeat was not all down to the strong resistance of the visitors, as poor execution of the ball in the key areas of midfield defence, coupled with a display of ball distribution that can certainly be improved, were also contributing factors in St Albans' defeat.

St Albans scored through two converted penalties by fly half Jack Stevenson, before a surge by winger Ian McMulian late in the game resulted in a deserved score, which was converted by Stevenson.

St Albans will want to regroup before their final league match of the year against Chiswick RFC on December 22.

At least the St Albans second team were in fine flow, beating Stevenage second XV 17-0.

Flanker Barry Smith continued his exciting start to the season with an outstanding display that saw him crucial in both defence and attack.

Smith capped his match with a fine individual try on the stroke of half-time.

Victory was sealed in the second period, when Dave Boatlove rounded off fabulous team move.

December 14, 2001 12:00