Top-of-the-table Druids hosted Newport High School Old Boys in a league encounter on Chippenham Mead.

The Druids were seeking a double over the Old Boys, having beaten them 29-19 in the game played earlier in the season.

There was increased expectancy in the Druids ranks because they had won their last six matches so they were looking to extend the winning run.

The home side had the first opportunity to open the scoring but captain and kicker Dave Brace missed a 25-metre penalty goal.

The Old Boys pack were bigger man-for-man compared to the Druids' eight and they made it count at the scrum.

Their driving mauls were proving difficult to stop and the Old Boys were looking dangerous in this phase of play.

A break by Druids left wing Gareth Jones was snuffed out but the Druids were more effective by moving the ball through the hand.

It was from a rarely won scrum that the home side took the lead. Although going backwards, second row Andy Howells picked up the ball, made ground and dived over for the game's first try which was not improved.

The Old Boys hit back with a converted try after another spate of driving play from a rock solid scrum, which was to gain greater impact as the match progressed.

The running and passing of the Druids backs stretched the Old Boys defence, which creaked and groaned.

Druids scrum half Tom Cratchley weaved his way through the visitors' ranks and touched down over the try line.

This time Brace kicked the conversion to give the Druids a tenuous 12-seven lead.

Just before the interval the Old Boys drew level again from a commanding scrum and a back row move. The failed conversion made the score 12-12 at half-time.

For more on this game, see this week's Beacon (15th February).