Read below, or open up attached PDF to read in technicolour! And don't forget to browse Media/Abums on this site for two separate albums, covereing both the match, as well as the Vets Day and Christmas lunch photos.

The CS Stags 1863 and Civil Service Football Club (RU) old faithful were out in force last Saturday, for our Vets, Former Players, Supporters Christmas Lunch. It was fantastic to see a good lunch turn out of 40 from far and wide, including John Gaskell, one of our oldest former players, who will shortly be turning 91, and was still itching to get on the pitch! Well done and thanks to all who came, and I hope you enjoy the photos of the excellent occasion attached (under Media/Albums on Pitchero club site).

The teams on the pitch bedded in for the first fifteen minutes in a game of mutual attrition, before Stags made the first breakthrough. David Wilkinson finished off a good move that he started earlier, and cut through a good line for the first try, converting himself, and taking the score to 7-0. Alleynians then struck back on 26 minutes with an unconverted try of their own, and things were not all going the Stags way, especially with a few injuries that forced the bench on early. So much so, David Wilkinson opted for the posts with a penalty on 38 minutes, and Stags took a 10-5 lead into half time.

The Stags came out with greater coordination second half, and assisted by line out control and scrum dominance, took a grip on the game. Kain Rix burst through for a try on 52 mins after a length of field move, and then Zac Riviere followed that four minutes later in similar style, ploughing through the visitor defence. Wilkinson converted the last try, and the score now stood 22-5. The four minute timer must have gone off again after that, as a pinpoint nudge from midfield out to the left saw Luke Trigg gather, fend off, and run through for the try. 27-5. Forwards again up next, another four minutes later, with James Fraser pummelling through the defence line on a powerful run with added pace, for his try on 64 minutes. 32-5. There was a late consolation try for Alleynians on 78 minutes after our defence held them short on the line for several minutes, and this wrapped the match up with a 32-10 victory for Stags, five tries to two.

A great win for the boys, and in style, in front of their appreciative former players. The Stags remain in fifth place in the league after this bonus point win, two points behind Alleynians, a seven wins to five losses tally, and a very healthy +/- points difference of 167 (second highest in the league after Jersey). And do check out the stats page on England Rugby, look up the Stags players try and point tallies, and we retain strongest fortress in the league status coming up to Christmas.

Tries: 25 points (x5) –David Wilkinson, Kain Rix, Zac Riviere, Luke Trigg, James Fraser.
Conversions: 4 points (x2) – David Wilkinson.
Penalties: 3 points (x1) – David Wilkinson.

No Staghounds 2nd XV game today to report on – break week in the Gauchos ROC London Shield league. Latest League tables attached for both the 1st XV & 2nd XV.

Next week: Saturday 20th December 2025. CS Stags 1863 are away to Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club - St. Marks Recreation Ground, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LS – 2.00 p.m. kick off.

Links:
1st XV fixtures, results, table:
https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=261&division=66524&season=2025-2026#fixtures
2nd XV Staghounds fixtures, results, table:
https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?division=67754&competition=1729&season=2025-2026#results

Club pages on Pitchero, Facebook, LinkedIn:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/civilservicefootballclubru/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/civilstags
https://www.linkedin.com/company/66883452/admin/page-posts/published/