Barnes were able to exact what was for them sweet revenge for the indignities heaped upon them by CS last season – the wounds were deep ones – but they certainly did not have things all their own way in this latest instalment of the Canada Geese derby. When CS who had been losing 19-16 at half-time took the lead 19-21 not long after, they were looking far the more enterprising side and indeed twice came within a whisker - an inexact final pass to be precise - of extending that lead.

Two lengthy breaks in play as Barnes reassessed their front row options following injuries did little for continuity : strictly speaking play should have continued with uncontested scrums and with Barnes obliged to play a man short until they again had the full complement of front players on the pitch ready and willing to scrummage, and these stoppages, coming when they did, certainly did the Stags no favours.

That said, Barnes were deserving victors, eventually triumphant by a score that included six tries to three and that, despite having had to suffer two yellow cards and therefore playing a man short for twenty minutes . They were the bigger and more streetwise side with one very telling weapon, if very little else, in their armoury : the driving maul which they employed relentlessly. CS never got properly to grips with this behemoth and their greater inventiveness was not sufficient of a counter-balance to carry the day. As well as their two gilt-edged second half chances another scoring chance in the second minute of the game had also foundered on the last pass.

Barnes certainly had the monopoly on muscle and in the final quarter were able to flex it fully with flanker Stanton completing his hat-trick.