Despite missing a number of first choice players and facing a side who have not lost this season, Stags turned in a spirited performance in an open and well contested match that could have gone either way until Stags tired in the final 20 minutes.

In the first half Stags produced probably their best session of rugby since defeating Banbury in November 2005. Two tries resulted, from Devon Brown after a well organised and irresistible catch and drive and Elliot Baldwin who finished off a passage of play of true beauty that, of all games, only rugby union can produce.

Stags could have had more and 10 – 0 would have been a barely adequate reward for their first half effort. Even that was not to be, however, as, in arguably the defining moment of the match, Old Laurentians scored a preventable try on the stroke of half time.

Old Laurentians started the second half with pace and a converted try and dropped goal gave them a 15 – 10 lead.

Stags were still in it but re-organisation consequent upon an injury to Matt Parle and a degree of fatigue allowed the visitors two further tries in the final quarter.

Nevertheless, this was a heartening afternoon for Stags and there will be selection conundrums in certain positions for the visit of Ampthill on 4 November, kick off 2.15 p.m. This is all to the good and will benefit the 2nd and 3rd XV’s away and home respectively, also to Ampthill.

Damo's Man of the Match: Elliott Baldwin

The Staggerers beat Deepings by one goal and three tries to one try. This was a well deserved and controlled win from the Veterans. Before the game we were rather apprehensive, we had only four genuine backs, while Deepings 2's were full of youngsters and their website claimed they had won there last match 92-0.

With a squad boasting 11 forwards the tactics were clear "control the pill" and play up the middle. In the event Deepings were disappointing, while the vintage front row (134 years between them) were dominant, and after the first two scrums Deepings barely won a put in.

Stags took an early lead from short penalty when Spanner crashed over; continued pressure in Deepings 22, yielded a gazelle like run from Spenny who bustled over the line to extend the lead to10 points. After a Stags' mistake at kick off, Deepings responded quickly, with a try in the corner.

In spite of concerns at half time that Deepings young legs would prove a challenge Stags persevered with their power play; and early on Stags robbed a lineout from which Spenny ran a full 10m before flopping exhausted over the line for his second try, which Dan "Eureka" Johnson converted. The game then matured into a sustained pattern of mistakes and scrums (all won by the Stags). This was right up the Staggerers' street. In the last quarter Stags set up a spectacular rolling maul, and having pushed Deepings back a good 15m the ball was sent the down the line for Ulrike to score. We come now to the Firby moment when "Safe Hands" Belchier achieved a wonderful and very public knock-on from the re-start. Of course the forwards were delighted with another scrum!

Well done everyone a great result, what a shame that Chris was not there to lead you. Special thanks to second rows Ped and Craig who did a valiant job guarding the wings while Neil Morey debuted at centre.