There are always different ways of viewing this sort of score. The Stags’ supporter would argue that this game was a lot closer than the scoreline would suggest. The TJs’ supporter would probably make a convincing case that the Stags never really looked like scoring. This was certainly a dour affair, very different from past encounters between these two sides which have featured free- flowing rugby and plenty of tries.

There is a pronounced slope at the Slade and when the Stags who had had had first use of it turned round at halftime 3-0 down it was always going to be difficult. They had had their moments and even some protracted periods of pressure but TJs were disciplined and well marshalled in defence and were prepared to wait for the seemingly inevitable CS error. All too often those handling errors came sooner rather than later and one might also query whether the Stags could not have perhaps have done more with the boot to really pin their opponents in the corners.

As it was, that half-time score line, reflecting as it did the evenness of play in the first half, was very encouraging for the home side. When TJs, after numerous phases, eventually moved the ball wide there was real precision in their passing and their full-back made the extra man in the corner. The conversion was missed but with the score now a significant 8-0 it was fairly clear that the next score if it went TJs way would settle the affair.

There seemed to be a certain inevitably about the way matters then unfolded in what , although it was not an unpleasant day weather-wise, was becoming more and more of an arm wrestle.

The Stags responded well to the score and probably had their best continuous ten minute spell of the game but TJs soaked it all up and again the Stags came away with nothing. When first CS lock Ben Davies and then later No 8 James Gillett were carded – although TJs also lost one of their own, all for offences relating to the slowing of the ball down - that hill was getting steeper and, although there was still plenty of endeavour , TJs were never seriously threatened again.

Indeed in the last six minutes of the game they were able to put some icing on their cake, first by adding a further penalty and then, at the death, a penalty try as the chaser of a ball cleverly threaded through in the centre was held back as he was winning the race.

All in all it was not a happy day for the Stags who had been taught a lesson on a day when defences dominated. To their credit the Stags had kept on plugging away and several players had had their first taste of action for the club at this level. And there was one curious fact : for the first time in many years, surely, not one Kiwi featured in the CS starting line-up. But then again, perhaps that explains something