St Albans Centurions suffered a 32-8 defeat at London Skolars A in the London Premiership on Saturday.

In what must be the quickest try of the season so far, St Albans winger Kieran O’Shea received the ball out on the right wing and ran 40 yards through several tackles before scoring the first points of the match.

The rain then became torrential and had an effect on the game with both teams losing the wet, slippery ball in tackles and having difficulty in keeping their feet. After a further 15 minutes the home side ran in an unconverted try when a St Albans tackler slipped on the wet grass and allowed his opposite number to score.

Ten minutes before half-time the Skolars ran in another try on their right wing which was not converted.

The Cents trailed 8-4 at the break but were blown away during a decisive 15 minute spell after half-time when the Skolars ran in four converted tries.

With ten minutes left on the clock Lewis Dempsey, one of the three brothers playing for the Cents, took the ball 15 yards out and burst through the Skolars defensive line to score.

St Albans finished strongly but the damage was done as they fell to defeat.

Cents assistant coach Andy Lake said: “That game was far more even than the score line suggests. We lost it in the second half when we had a horrible 15 minutes when we let in four tries without answer and then left it too late to fight back. “The majority of the game was fairly even, a hard game but even. The boys played really well, and don't forget we are a fully amateur club playing against a professional rugby clubs ‘A’ team.”

The Cents travel to West Ham to play the Newham Dockers in the second round of the London Cup this weekend.

St Albans Centurions will also be playing the British Army Rugby League team at their Toulmin Drive ground at 6.30pm on Wednesday, May 21 in aid of the TroopAid charity. Entry is free but a donation bucket will be passed around. It is hoped people will come along to support their local team, the British Army and the charity.