At Summers Lane, Finchley 1st XV got off to a flying start against Chiswick. Hugo Lloyd-Williams opened the scoring after just two minutes with an unconverted try to make it 5-0.

Finchley controlled territory and doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Kieran Tomlinson crossed for another unconverted try, 10-0. Jack Mousley added a third try after 20 minutes, taking the score to 15-0.

Chiswick, a much-improved side since the start of the season, responded with a try on 30 minutes. Tom Parker powered over on the left wing and converted his own try, leaving the half-time score at 15-7.

The second half was a defensive battle. Finchley held firm despite Chiswick’s pressure. On 60 minutes, a breakthrough by Man of the Match Ben O`Donohoe got Finchley into the Chiswick 22, but they couldn’t convert.

Chiswick kept pushing, and Tom Parker grabbed his second try on 65 minutes, but the conversion was missed, leaving the score at 15-12. Despite relentless late pressure, Finchley’s determined defence held on for the win.

Full Time: Finchley 15 – Chiswick 12

Next up, Finchley hit the road to face Hitchin on Saturday, 11th January.

Saturday 4th January – Wasps 2nds v Finchley 2nds (Cup)

The game kicked off with Finchley looking a little sluggish – perhaps shaking off some post-festive rust. Within 10 minutes, Wasps opened the scoring with an unconverted try, taking a 5-0 lead.

That early wake-up call spurred Finchley into action. Will Cooper, showing his experience, pounced at the back of a maul to score Finchley’s first try, levelling the game at 5-5.

From there, Finchley started to control the exchanges. Despite gaining good territory through a series of tap penalties, they couldn’t convert pressure into points.

The breakthrough came from Braden Thompson, who showed a touch of brilliance. Chasing into Wasps’ 22, he regained the ball after a fortunate bounce from a Wasps offload and finished the job from five metres out. Wasps responded with a try of their own, leaving the score tied 10-10 at half-time.

Finchley dominated the second half, spending most of it camped in Wasps’ territory. Frustratingly, a series of collapsed mauls went unnoticed by the referee, keeping the game close. However, persistence paid off on 65 minutes when Charlie Dee attacked the blindside, setting up a series of offloads. Matt Houppermans broke through and fed Danny Vacca, who crashed over under the posts. Dee added the extras to make it 10-17.

A late penalty from Charlie Dee on 73 minutes sealed the win, 10-20.

Full Time: Wasps 10 - Finchley 20

This victory secures Finchley 2nds a place in the Middlesex Bowl semi-final, scheduled for Saturday, 12th April.

Reports by Steven Rigby