Royston 17 - 14 Actonians

A bitterly cold, muddy, and windswept away day at Royston saw Actonians fall just short in a gritty contest, despite a determined effort from start to finish.

A’s started the stronger side, adapting well to the horrendous conditions. The forward pack set the tone early, picking and driving relentlessly to grind out territory. That pressure soon paid off, with JT finishing off some hard-earned field position to crash over for the first try. Zach stepped up in the swirling wind and slotted the extras with ease.

Royston struggled to contain Actonians’ tempo, and before halftime, JT struck again—this time after slick handling from Knight and Perks sent him through. Another pinpoint kick from Zach took A’s to a 14-0 lead.

But the second half was a different story. Royston, with the wind at their backs, turned to their forward power and clawed their way back with two tries before edging ahead with a penalty. Actonians kept fighting, with relentless defensive work and the pack continuing to carry hard, but the final breakthrough never came.

Despite the result, it was a performance full of heart. The pack’s grit and the backs’ composure in nightmare conditions showed A’s aren’t afraid of a scrap. A tough loss, but plenty of positives to take into next week.

Report provided by Charlie Stace