For all the inherent ridiculousness of applying the term friendly to a game of rugby, the pre-season ‘friendly’ is a vital part of any preparation for a league campaign. So it was on a bright, clear day during what are surely the final throws of summer that Streatham-Croydon faced a similarly double-monikered adversary in Hammersmith and Fulham at Frant Road. With the arrival of a new coach and resplendent new stand and changing facilities much has changed at the South London club.

With new systems and personnel it should be expected that the free-flowing, incisive rugby - which is surely the ultimate goal - was not immediately apparent. The first fifteen minutes was a decidedly disjointed affair with both sides making mistakes which the opposition were unable to capitalise upon. It was the visitors who struck first following concerted pressure deep in the Streatham half, a snaking run by the Hammersmith centre was met with ineffectual tackling allowing him to touch down under the posts.

Streatham’s riposte was swift and pointed. The much sought-after continuity allowed scrum-half Liam Gallagher to score the home side’s first try of the season ably converted by winger Aaron Brown.

Set pieces are at the very heart of any team’s success and in that regard the home side’s report card would be a decidedly mixed affair. Let us begin first with the positives. The scrum was dominant throughout the match and proved to be a wonderfully effective weapon in both defence and attack. The line out less so with overthrows and indecision meaning possession could not be guaranteed for the home side's backs; this will surely be rectified in the coming days.

Streatham went into the break in the ascendency thanks to an intercept try from Brown which was followed by his right wing colleague Vinny Auguiste finishing superbly from a pass from fly-half and captain Chris Geary. Half-time saw a number of changes in personnel with various different faces being given the opportunity to impress. Yet it was a player who played the entire match who impressed the most, with Lyall Thompson garnering plaudits for his combative tackling and attack play.

The finest try of the game came with seventeen minutes of the second half gone. Successive carries from Streatham forwards created an overlap which saw deft hands from number 8 Toby Finlayson releasing Brown for his second try of the game. From this high watermark the game meandered to a finish with the final score going to the visitors.

So overall a positive display against an organised, committed opposition. There will be disappointment with the high penalty count and lack of precision at important moments, but friendlies are the perfect opportunity to experiment and practice the un-tested. There will be a couple more opportunities for Streatham-Croydon to do this before they begin their league campaign in earnest away at Cranleigh on the 28th September.