Mount House 1st XV opened the 2004 season with fixtures against two schools touring the South West.

Mount House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Pinewood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

TWO excellent tries in the opening ten minutes ? one a searing break by centre George Day-Robinson, the other a splendid effort by Rory Oxenham ? suggested a comfortable victory.

However, poor defence enabled the powerful Pinewood winger to score two tries and at half time only Harry Cousens? two conversions split the teams (14-10).

In the second half early tries by George Day-Robinson and Bruce Fulton extended the lead only for another lapse in concentration and effort to allow Pinewood to complete an excellent hat trick of tries and rekindle the pressure of the first half.

Mount House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Sandyroyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The second fixture saw Mount House hosting Sandroyd School.

This match saw a much improved performance. The pack out scrummaged and out rucked their opponents for much of the match and this laid the foundations for the win.

Although in control for long periods, poor tactics in wet conditions never put Sandroyd under persistent pressure.

Harry Cousens scored two excellent tries, but an interception on the stroke of half time brought the visitors to within two points of the Mount House score.

Excellent defence kept Mount House at bay and the home side?s only success was a well taken penalty kick by Harry Cousens.

In the end this proved to be enough as the Mount House defence remained solid against the occasional break out, emerging deserved winners 17-12, all seventeen points coming from centre Harry Cousens.