Merton 44 Haslemere 6

It was a big day for Merton who relaunched their clubhouse The Den as well as launching a new online shop and sponsors Chateau 6, and they dominated from the start.

Centre Danny Fernando-Trick and wingman Rob Greenwood both went close after making breaks.

Fernando-Trick opened the scoring, taking a short pass from Josh McNamara and bursting through the visitors’ defence to dot down close to the sticks, with Luke Tabb adding the conversion.

Soon after, Tabb kicked a penalty to make it 10-0.

Haslemere reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty, before McNamara scored his first fry for Merton, an arching run taking him beyond the opposition’s midfield to slide over to the right over the posts. Tabb again converted.

The home threequarters were now rampant, great hands down the line seeing the ball reach Greenwood, who had too much gas for his opposite number to take him on the outside and dive over the whitewash in the corner.

A second penalty to the visitors doubled their tally.

But, just before half-time, Merton added their fourth try after the Mere defence, keeping a close eye on Fernando-Trick, left Ed Lovatt to take the ball on and slip a scoring pass to MacKinnon, racing through a large gap for an excellent try.

After the break, Merton perhaps became a bit too ambitious in their repertoire.

A few passes went to ground and Mere were able to enjoy their most productive period of the match and, for the first time, exert some pressure on the home side.

The Merton defence held firm though, with Dean Evans putting in a few big hits, and the forwards were soon working their way up the field, the younger Quinn being prominent in the loose and getting great support from a mobile pack, Chris Corby, Nick Ramsey and Tim Rossiter each showing their paces.

A straightforward penalty chance saw Tabb extend the advantage, before Fernando-Trick scored his sixth try of the season, again breaking tackles to dot down.

Merton’s last try of the afternoon came after good work from Rob Pile and James Newbury, the ball then reaching Greenwood, who chipped the ball forward and won the foot race to complete his brace.

Kieran Blogg was understandably happy with an excellent performance, but he must do without Kohn, Ramsey, Pile and Greenwood this weekend.

This was an excellent performance from the Merton XV, and Coach Kieran Blogg was, understandably, a happy man at the final whistle. This Saturday, however, they must do without Kohn and Ramsey, and also the two Robs, Pile and Greenwood.