St Peter's given the runaround in first outing - but at least they won!

St Peter's, Gloucester, were given a wake-up call in their first competitive match of the season when they were given the runaround at St Benedict's, Ealing.

It was six tries to one in an emphatic 32-10 win for one of last year's beaten semi-finalists in the U18 Cup.

The visitors are notoriously slow starters because of the set-up in Gloucestershire, which concentrates on county trials in the early weeks of the season. St Peter's were also without England prop Sean Knight, whose twisted knee could keep him out for six weeks. Openside Marcus Brown fractured his jaw playing senior rugby and was missed.

St Peter's went 15-0 down and had hardly touched the ball. They improved defensively and scored from an interception in their 22 on the stroke of half time and a penalty gave the scoreline aflattering look.

But when St Benedict's stepped on the gas midway through the second half, it became one-way traffic again. St Benedict's play at such pace and with safe hands, that they can blow away the opposition at any time.

They have targeted the Daily Mail Cup this season and their extra preparation and match fitness told. They have already won the Esher President's Cup, beating Dulwich and RGS High Wycombe and launched their regular season by gaining revenge over KCS Wimbledon, the only side except Cup winners Warwick to beat them last season.

They will take some stopping and had key players missing against St Peter's.

Regular kicker James Booth was running the line after picking up an eye injury in the KCS game, while their new Middlesex fly half Stuart Pareham was on video duty. He suffered a hairline fracture of his right shoulder in his first game for the school at Stowe. Both should be back for the Cup campaign.