I think many people watching our victory over Old Haberdashers on Saturday will struggle to understand why that team has just victory to their name this season... By their own admission, the team that faced us at Mill Road was a 'full strength' Old Habs side. The Old Habs 1st XV don't train and their starting XV can varying tremendously from week to week depending upon who's around and who fancies a game - but they should never be underestimated because they have access to some excellent players.

Elsewhere in the league, rivals Chingford continued their winning streak season with a victory over our next opponents Ruislip and second place Amersham and Chiltern couldn't edge past North Walsham at the Scottow, sharing the points in a 21-21 draw. Once again, despite the emergence of a breakaway group, it appears that on "any given Saturday" a team can cause an upset.

Our two 18 year olds in the second row did a great job. The second row is the "engine room" of the pack and the fact that two of our youngest players more than held their own in the face of seasoned opposition speaks volumes. I hope everyone will have been really impressed with the performance of Rory Miller on his 1st XV debut. Rory worked well with the pack and made three lineout "steals" off the relatively secure Old Habs throw. As a team we are very much aware of the need to work on our lineout. Consistent components produce consistent lineouts and unfortunately our pack has been ravaged by injury and enforced changes in personnel. We started the season with five fit and available hookers who have all had 1st XV experience; on Saturday Tom Dales stepped up and put in a shift for the club and within another fortnight we should have more competition for the No.2 shirt with Rhys Hartley and Charlie Thorogood on the path to recovery from injury. By the time we face Ruislip we should also have Liam Pickett back from injury to strengthen the pack even further.

Our two props performed well. Joe McMillan carried superbly, he started the game like a man possessed and made several powerful surging runs. He was the instigator of a superb second half move that was inexplicably halted by the referee's whistle for a forward pass and his scrummaging was, as always very secure. Playing at loose head enables Joe to have a greater influence and impact around the pitch; it was good to have him back in the side. Not to be outdone, James Mitchell took home the Man of the Match award - a meal for two voucher courtesy of Milsoms Restaurants and a bottle of prosecco from Nethergate Wines. At tight head prop Mitchell provided the solid base for the scrum, his power and strength was crucial at the lineout, enabling Rory Miller to steal ball off three Old Habs throws, and he made some crucial carries; one in particular in a defensive situation to overturn sustained pressure.

Will Brown was a constant threat with the ball in hand, his pace and acceleration is phenomenal, but he also gave us an indication of his all round game with a series of searching kicks. Will delivered a grubber kick parallel to the touchline in the second half that was literally an inch away from perfection; the bounce of a ball makes all the difference! Finally, I'd like to pay tribute to Harrison Pickett who returned to the side in the second after a year-long sabbatical (to start a successful boxing career!) and injury. Harrison is a great lad who never gives less than 110% to everything he does, and considering his time time out from the game, his performance at No.8 was excellent. He had been on the pitch no more than a couple of minutes when he took the attack straight to the opposition with a great carry and leg drive that opened up the Old Habs midfield. His aggression and determination is a welcome addition to the team.

As a group, we are well aware that there's plenty of room for progress in our performances. To realise our ambitions we need to keep winning and, in order to keep pace with the league leaders Chingford, hold our nerve and try to secure some bonus points. Despite the result, I am sure that anyone who watched the game at Chingford will tell you that for the entire 1st half we were well in control. We have to make this dominance count. All teams will suffer injuries, unexpected results and disappointments over the course of a season, the team that manages these challenges most effectively will ultimately prevail. The campaign continues!

The 1st XV and in action again on Saturday 21st October at Ruislip RFC. This weekend The Ravens are in action at Mill Road against Redingensians RFC, kicking off at 2.30pm. The only other senior game of the weekend features the Roundheads against Bury's 4th XV, again at Mill Road.