Dry, a little breeze, and 4G, a great time to have fun.

It took a fair bit to get there, with numerous changes both on and off the field, which could have unsettled the equilibrium, but after a re-set in the sheds (a little bit bigger that a cupboard) these things were put into perspective and out of the way.

A slightly shaky warm-up in places, but it came together well.

From the kick-off 1871 looked to play sensibly by applying pressure on to Rosslyn Park, but had a couple of wobbles in the process.  This was righted swiftly and after 2 minutes, when Carlos Duarte (7) went over to score, after 1871 recovered a Rosslyn Park kick out, passed the ball down the line, a snipe from Aidan Summerfield (9), a great carry by Oliver McAllister, then Carlos taking the ball down the blind side. Harrison Slater (10) took the extras, something that he did after every 1871 try in this game.

12 out of 12 is no mean feat.

4 minutes later Albert Stoute (2) went over from a well worked lineout and maul.

Not to be outdone, Rosslyn Park showed a bit of muscle at 23 minutes after taking a quick tap penalty, then repeatedly picking and going on the blind side, before 1871 could fold.  A well worked try wide.

This was the only score for Rosslyn Park, who save for a handful of times of moving the ball well and putting a little bit of pressure on the 1871 defensive line, were in a defensive mode.

At 30 minutes, Carlos Duarte went over again after he stole the Rosslyn Park lineout and ran in from the half-way line down the blind side.

At 33 minutes David Vater went over after 1871 took a quick tap penalty stretched the defensive line by going wide, then Logan Flint (4) with the softest hand offload found a charging David Vater through a gap.

Another quick tap penalty at 37 minutes, once again stretched the Rosslyn Park defensive line out wide, before the ball found Sevanaia Laqeretabua (8), punched a hole to score.

At 39 minutes Marquis Daly-Vidal (14) carried the ball hard into contact, it was then recycled well, for Patrick Yeates (11).

Second half was similar to the first, with 1871 taking hold and never relinquishing it.

Sevanaia scored after 9 minutes after picking up from the back of a scrum.

At 13 minutes, Harrison Slater showed his dancing feet from about the Rosslyn Park 10 metre line, stepping multiple players inside and out, breaking ankles, then running the ball in under the posts.

At 17 minutes MacKenzie Hillier (17) got straight into the game, holding his width well and was on the end of a super quick mis-pass to run the ball in almost un-opposed.

At 20 minutes Logan Flint got the biggest cheer of the day when he went over for a score, after he took a quick tap penalty, dragging the defence with his big frame, then using that soft offload again followed it on and showed his power side by receiving the ball and crashing through players to score.  Try of the day.

After causing damage in the mid-field on both sides of the ball all day long, Ilan Trowbridge (13) saw an opportunity at a breakdown and picked the ball up from the base and ran clear to score, very smart and quick thinking.  Funny, as during his personal warm-up, he was practicing his one handed pick-ups, as if from the base.  Was this pre-meditated?  A smart cookie.

The final try of the game was the hat-trick score for Sevanaia, after 1871 won a scrum, played the ball down the line, once again stretching the defensive line, then he cut inside and crashed over.

Apart from the very small wobble, at the start of the game and some decision making blips during the game, that will need to be ironed out for the future, 1871 were firmly on top throughout.  This was a punishing performance against a side who do have some ability, but frankly take things too lightly, openly admitting that they do not train and when they do, have single figures turning up to train, preferring the social side of things.  It is very clear that 1871 have a goal in mind for this season and are sticking to that path.