Strets have enjoyed a good rivalry with Mitcham & Carshalton this season, primarily on social media where plenty of banter is thrown about. So this was a game marked in most of the SCRFC boys calendars. Mitcham & Carshalton seemed to enjoy regaling the misleading fact that they are unbeaten against Streatham-Croydon RFC for a while (they have been beating our second team...) so today was a must win. It was a cold a blistery day as Storm Arwen did her thing, but this didn't deter the SCRFC faithful, with a good showing from the club supporters.

After a relatively poor defensive showing the week previous against Reigate, compared to standards set earlier in the season, SCRFC were happy to let M&C have possession of the ball in the opening stages to test what the dominant defensive training focus has been on this week. The pressure told shortly after, with Adam 'Barney' Barnes making a huge hit, resulting in turn over ball which Freddie Smart smartly identified space in behind the M&C back line and popped a perfectly weighted kick over for Ibby Campbell to score for the games opening try. Freddie Smart and his kicking will come up again later in this report...

Shortly after, James 'Benyon' Beynon, in another typically fantastic performance, crashed over from short range for SCRFCs second try of the game. The dominant performance continued for the rest of the first half. Liam Gallagher, continuing his strong form from the previous week, made a darting line break before getting tackled on the opposition 5m line. Jack Everton displayed quick thinking to get the ball out quickly to handsome and all-round great guy captain Freddy Green to shoot through a gap and dot down. Typically, SCRFC dominated the opposition at scrum time, with the opposition struggling to get the ball out. Bob 'Danger' Dean's satisfaction was obvious to see... Jack Everton then gained his second assist of the afternoon with a huge, beautifully weighted pass to Ben Cowell who, in one of his best performances in a SCRFC shirt this season, showed the oppo his heels as he sped around the M&C backline to score under the posts. On a day not conducive to kicking, 10 Adam Sheehy did well to knock a few of them over. Ben Cowell took his season tally to 7 with another try shortly before half time.

Half time and the score was 29-0. The emphasis in training had been defence and so far, the Strets wall answered everything that was thrown at them. However, as it can easily happen in games such as these, complacency crept into the Strets performance. The second half began, with M&C finding renewed purpose to prevent a shut out. A couple of missed tackles resulted in M&C going over in the corner. Obviously disappointed to not get the clean sheet, SCRFC came back at M&C hard. Some smart kicking resulted in Ibby Campbell scoring again to take his season tally to 10 tries in 6 games. Freddy Green, with his full flowing head of hair, scored again following some sharp work from Adam Sheehy, who continued to marshal and organise the team well. VC Max Thomason got in on the act shortly afterwards with a customarily barreling run, bouncing this way and that, finally powering over the line.

SCRFC were feeling confident. Freddie Smart caught the ball from the kick off. An unnerving sparkle in Freddie's eye worried a few of the players in his vicinity. Like it was in slow motion, 10 Adam Sheehy could see what was about to happen. Ignoring plea's from most around to pass the ball to a forward so we could keep position, Freddie channelled his inner Jonny Wilkinson with an attempted spiral to the bottom corner. However unfortunately he channelled an inner Jonny Vegas instead, and spooned his kick straight into the air to be caught by an M&C player who accepted the try under our own posts. Freddie was understandably gutted, but he had a strong overall performance following a concussion.

In what was clubman, club legend and proper top boy Robb Montgomery's last home game, it was fitting that he would score a try. Cue jubilant scenes from the SCRFC boys, who were buzzing to see Robb score in his last home game for the club. Although this is not goodbye to Robb, who is moving back to Belfast (and may actually be playing next week...), on behalf of the mens squad, it has been a huge pleasure playing with him. A lynch pin in the scrum, terrifyingly powerful and quick runner, and a constant donator to bar sales, he will be greatly missed by the club. Although the sit down Dast Boot in the bar afterwards was not one of his finest moments.

Although Strets were disappointed not to keep the clean sheet, this was a huge win against a local rival. Some good craic followed in the bar afterwards.

SCRFC turn their heads to next weeks top of the table clash with Old Paulines away. That one will be interesting...

MoTM - Benny Cowell
DoD - Freddie Smart
Man of Steel - Barney Barnes