The first game after winning the league and a target firmly on the 1871 backs, with Twickenham loaded up and ready to play. A frustrating warm-up which was sporadic and generally lacking in accuracy and punch.

The age old Achilles heel of being offside at the breakdown after 1 minute, gave Twickenham the opportunity to take first blood with a penalty kick. Which they duly slotted.
It was then a bit of an arm wrestle with both side working hard in the middle of the field and being repelled from within each other’s 22mtr areas. Then at 14 minutes in Logan Flint (4) crashed over after some close quarter work by the 1871 pack. No conversion. 4 minutes later Twickenham were able to score after the dancing feet of their 15 stepped in and out of various players setting up a quick couple of phases and stretching the 1871 defensive line. They also secured the conversion. The battle for territory continued for the next 20 minutes continued until the 38th minute when Luke Beasley (1) was on the end of a lovely soft handed tip offload by Theo Szweda (18) and he went over for a score. Harrison Slater (C)(10) took the extras, which put 1871 back in front. However, Twickenham were having none of it and came back one minute later to score after a winning lineout, maul and a peel off to crash over.

1871 started fast after 1 minute with Afzaal Ijaz (12) hitting a very hard line after Junior Peni (8) peeled on the blind side from a scrum, passing to Aidan Summerfield (9) hitting the Afzaal, who was running in like a steam train. Harrison Slater once again took the extras.
Again Twickenham went at it and 4 minutes later scored another try, from themselves hitting a hard line and stretching the 1871 defence and they also took the extra 2 points. At 12 minutes into this half they took another 3 points after a penalty to give themselves a bit of daylight. However, 3 minutes later Theo Szweda got on the scoresheet himself after 1871 won a lineout and began to maul, the maul went down and after a quick pick and go Theo went over for the score. Unfortunately by this time Harrison had gone off the pitch, having pulled his quad muscle, so the conversion was secured by Aidan Summerfield.
The tussle began and once again 1871 were offside at the breakdown, (8 breakdown offences with 4 for being offside) gifting Twickenham the penalty kick which they duly secured. The fight continued, which again was a real arm wrestle, but there weren’t any other scores.

Missed opportunities, but fair play to Twickenham, who came out to do a job and didn’t think about anything else but their role, which was a different mindset to earlier in the season. If things work in the right way and in their favour, there is a possibility that we could see them next season.
That will be interesting…