The 1st XV had a strong start to their Champions Trophy campaign with a 38-5 victory over long distance opponents, Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL). GSAL started well, scoring a try within the first five minutes after some poor discipline and silly mistakes by Epsom.
The team regained composure and began to impose control on the game. Tom Williams (P) made a daring 30-metre break for Makeen Alikhan (Rn) to finish in the opposite corner. Jack Jesty (G) then promptly converted. Under sustained pressure, GSAL relented twice more to Lennan Day (G) and Riley Milsom (C), with Jack Jesty converting both to make it 21-5 at halftime.
Within the first five minutes of the second half, Makeen Alikhan went over for his second for a well-worked team try, and then Luke Laughton (C) scored a superb solo effort from halfway.
GSAL fought to the last minute, but captain Tom Allen (Fa) capitalised on a turnover ball in the Epsom 22 to go the length of the pitch and score.
Another good performance with many positives going into the Harrow game on Saturday.
Won: 38-5
Tries: Alikhan (Rn) x2, Milsom (C), Day (G), Laughton (C), Allen (Fa)
Players of the Match: Makeen Alikhan (Rn) and Lennan Day (G)
