The 2s get their 2026/27 campaign off to a flying start!

The Hammersmith & Fulham 2nd XV got their league campaign off to a flying start with a 72–10 victory over Old Millhillians, although the opening exchanges suggested it was going to be a much tighter contest.

The game started at a slightly slower pace, with Hammers giving away a few early penalties as they settled into the first league fixture of the season. The ******** were first on the scoresheet, before some excellent play in the back line from the resulting kick-off created the opportunity for a second try.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to take our word for that one, as the veo only decided to start recording after it had already gone over the line.

The first half remained a physical contest, with both teams putting plenty of pressure on the opposition and making it difficult to find a way through the defensive lines. Hammers managed to add a couple more tries to the scoreboard, but Old Millhillians continued to battle and found a score of their own before the break.

The final stages of the half became particularly challenging for Hammers, with two yellow cards leaving the side down to 13 men. The remaining players had to put in a huge defensive shift to see out the half, with Hammers taking a lead into the break.

The second half began in much the same physical fashion, with the wBastards still playing with a numerical disadvantage and having to work hard to maintain their advantage. As the game progressed, however, gaps began to appear in the Millhillians defence and Hammers started to make the extra space count.

Just as the two yellow cards returned to the field, Hammers somehow found themselves down to 14 again. A disagreement with the referee over who knew the rules better didn’t quite go as planned, and a third yellow card followed.

Despite the disruption, Hammers continued to apply pressure. Old Millhillians eventually found their first score of the second half through a series of repetitive pick-and-goes from the Hammers five-metre line.

From there, however, the Hammers attack really began to click. A flurry of tries came towards the end of the match, with brilliant handling, quick ball and well-executed set pieces creating opportunities across the field.

There were plenty of individual highlights throughout the second half, with Max Dugdale, Paddy O’Toole, Joseph O’Brien, Oscar Norman, Sam Nursey, Dan Hogg and Digby Waldron all getting their names on the scoresheet. Oliver Campbell went one better, completing a hat-trick as Hammers continued to pull away.

Sam Heron also had a strong afternoon from the tee, striking the conversions cleanly as Hammers moved through the 70-point mark.

After a physical opening half and a few disciplinary challenges along the way, Hammers finished the afternoon strongly to secure a convincing 72–10 victory and open the league season with a win.