Fullerians narrowly beaten by leaders Hammersmith & Fulham

The table-toppers arrived at Coningesby Drive having tasted defeat just once in their previous 13 league games, but only two points separated the sides when the hosts were awarded a late penalty 30 metres out. However, captain Ben Matchett agonisingly pulled the ball wide to the right of the posts, leaving Hammersmith to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

One of Fullers’ five pitches was playable following the wet week as the hosts looked to bounce back from their previous weekend's defeat at second-placed Old Priorians.

A cagey first ten minutes saw the visitors with most of the possession and Fullers producing some fine defence until H&F worked the ball quickly out wide, then back inside and their big second rower steamrolled the remaining defender to score. A simple conversion followed to give them a 0-7 lead after 13 minutes.

Fullers didn’t have to wait long before they got on the scoresheet though. Another dominant scrum pushed H&F back deep in their 22, allowing Matchett to push the ball inside to the centres. A little bit of crash ball was followed by a superb offload from full-back Sam Harrison to winger Ryan Lewis who dotted down in the corner. Matchett couldn’t quite make the conversion from a difficult angle to leave the score 5-7 with 18 minutes gone. It was to be the final points of the match.

As the heavens opened again it was indiscipline that got the better of both sides in the second half, with the visitors down to 14 following some foul play and another yellow to their replacement prop which meant a period of uncontested scrums, taking the sting out of Fullerians’ dominance.

Hammersmith were rocking and their hosts kept the pressure on, but couldn’t find a way round the excellent defence their opponents were putting up.

In the closing minutes replacement back row Andrew Murray was carded for foul language, before Fullers saw their chance to win it go wide of the uprights.