Uxbridge returned to league rugby against an ever-tough West London side after the Christmas break and two tough games against Brunel University and Old Millhillians.

The game began with the visitors having the wind advantage behind them making the opening exchanges brisk and fierce. Craig McIntyre, the Flying (into tackles) Scotsman himself making his first start at openside put in a series of telling hits to win turnovers and keep the hosts pegged back.

Bridge clearly had the upper hand in the scrums but couldn’t turn this into points despite plenty of possession in and around the West London 22.

The breakthrough finally came down the left-hand side as the ball was worked through the hands and recycled back to Elliot Wake to score the first try. Wake then impressively added the extras from out wide.

Bridge kept plugging away trying to find a second and it eventually came with five minutes of the half remaining with a carbon copy of the first try with Elliot Gardiner dotting down from close range. Wake, reliable as ever added the extras.

After the half time oranges, Bridge came out in the second looking to build on their lead, but it was the home side who seized on mistakes and through a series of pick and goes managed to get the ball down in the ensuing melee, which was then converted.

Bridge kept going for a third and with 20 minutes to go found themselves rumbling forward through a series of forward carries and after knocking on the door several times Jamie Woodstock barrelled his way over the score the third. Wake reliably added the extras.

Bridge’ quest for a fourth was hampered by the introduction of non-contact scrums and found their cut through limited going into the wind. Errors began to creep in on both sides and after the final play of the game found touch the referee bought the game to an end.

Final score Uxbridge-21, West London-7. There is no game next week (5th Feb) and the league is now splitting into two with this win confirming Bridge will remain in the top half to play Old Millhillians, Brunel University, Chess Valley and Watford again.