Under-16s score 11 tries in first match

Romford & Gidea Park’s under-16s began the season in style with a 69-7 thrashing of Bishop’s Stortford.

The teams contest three 25-minute periods, to ensure lots of game times for players, and Park’s defence resisted early pressure.

Turnover ball set up a chance for Seyi Ajeigbe to outpace the defence for a try converted by Tom Medaglia, with Tyler Ford darting under the posts soon after for another converted score.

Cameron Petrie caught the restart and set off on a run before offloading to Lamar Douglas, who sent a return pass for Petrie to charge over for the third try inside 15 minutes.

And Park’s line-out and pack continued to work to good effect, allowing Ajeigbe to run in two more tries, both converted, to make it 33-0 at the first break.

Both sides made several changes for the next session, but Park’s backs produced a flowing move as Walters, Ford and Piercy combined to send Dan Fox over.

And more good work from the pack set up Davison for a chip kick to winger Timi Osansumi, who ran past three defenders for try number seven and a 43-0 lead.

Despite more rehuffling for the third period, Park’s superb handling sent Ajeigbe away for his fourth try and Osansumi also went over in the corner following another impressive run.

Not to be outdone, Douglas got in on the act with a quickfire double, the second involving several dummies before he went under the posts.

Medaglia maitained his fine form from the kicking tee, converting seven of the 11 tries, but Stortford got some late reward for their efforts with a try under the posts.

Park: Stevens, Stalabrass, Petrie, Broonfield, Davison, Fahy, Chaplin, Milne, Madden, Rawlings, Donald, Duffy, Fox, Tighe, Medaglia, Dew, Ford, Piercy, Doulgas, Walters, Ajeigbe, Valentini, Osansumi.

n Romford’s under-14s began their campaign with a tough trip to Thurrock for a cup tie.

The Sharks made an encouraging start, matching their hosts in the first 10 minutes, and captain Louis Ridley broke from his own half and offloaded to second row Dylan Ellis, who made a fine run only to be tackled just before the line.

It proved the closest Romford would get to the Thurrock line as the home team took over and dominated the rest of the game, running in three tries for a 15-0 lead at the break.

Four more tries in the second half, with two conversions, sealed a 39-0 win over a below-par Sharks side, for whom Oscar King and Charlie Wilson made their debuts.

Park: Courtney, M Wilson, McVelia, Ellis, Brooks, Williams, Walker, Ridley, Sykes, Walters, Farrant, Brindle, McCloud, King, Wright, Charles, C Wilson, Burke.