For at least a decade, this fixture block has been the first of the season and the results have often been affected by the preparation time available to each team. With that factor removed and a few months to prepare, we expected some tight battles from well-prepared sides. Sherborne kindly offered lunch, with the coaches hosted in the Old School Room, a wood-panelled classroom dating back to 1606, replete with carved-out signatures of old Shirburnians. Following a good stroll to the pitches, the boys had plenty of time to warm up and check out the fancy shorts of the opposition, with the moniker of "Gents XV" recently emblazoned on their seats. What followed was physical affair, with the boys in blue seeking to get under the skin of their visitors through gentle gibing and assertive actions in the contact area. Radley were donated a great opportunity in the first five minutes with a 5 metre scrum; some magic from Conrad saw Fraser in. Sherborne rebounded and the rest of the first period was spent in the Radley half, with an obudurate display in defence. Eventually the Radley team persistence ground down the individually-talented home side, with tries scored by Lucas and Arthur. The damp conditions had seen a lot of knock-ons and slipped tackles, so the game was far from one-sided and indeed the scoreline did not reflect Sherborne's role in the game. A worthwhile encounter and a good chance for a nap on the long trip home.