The season started three days earlier than the start of term for most of the squad. In search of new training techniques and fresh training areas during this time, excursions to Richmond RFC and the local beach helped enormously. Ahead lay the prospect of our three hardest matches within a few weeks of each other, thus vital to gain some early fitness. Fully match fit the forwards would hold their own against any side, but a good combination of backs was the immediate problem.- Lack of speed must be compensated by good tackling, and the team-failed to do this admirably in our first game against Woolverstone Hall. Variation - a key word in good rugby - was non existent, and coupled with lack of confidence, made this match our disaster of the season.

However, after some rigorous training a change of tactics and a few sleepless nights, we went to Kings Canterbury to play a tight forward game, rolling off mauls and only giving the backs clean second phase ball. Some great tackling from Alan Messenger and Clive Mortimer contained their three-quarters, but we had to wait until the second half for the decisive break. Barry Sanderson was given very quick ball from the lineout, did his characteristic ossilations, came inside to pass to Ivor Elcock, who dummied one and sidestepped another, passing to Colin Morgan on the burst who ran the try into the corner..