A Spirited Performance For Hoppers, But No Early Presents

Seniors: First XV: 20th December 2025

Grasshoppers welcomed second place, Belsize Park to the Lane hoping to reverse the away loss earlier in the season and fielded a strong side that included some own grown talent from the 2024/25 Colts team namely, Luke Gregory, Cameron Isenburg and Harry Ateugwu.

The visitors licked off from the railway end and controlled the game for the first 10 minutes and were rewarded with an unconverted try for their efforts. This though, nudged G’s into action straight away when number eight, Deji Olajide scored an unconverted try from a pushover from 5 metres out to make the score 5-5.

Shortly afterwards the visitors retook the lead with a converted try but back came G’s with a try from second row, Manix Taylor and with the conversion from stand-off Conor Gilmore the scores were level at 12-12. Then just before half time the visitors scored a converted try when G’s allowed the ball to shoot out of the scrum to make the half time score 12-19.

G’s started the second half well and found themselves level again when centre, Blaise Salle scored a solo try going over the opposition line with numerous defenders hanging off him and Conor Gilmore adding the conversion.

G’s pressed and pressed in the final stages of the game but the bonus points alluded them as the visitors added two further tries and a conversion to make the full-time score 19-31.

So with some festive respite G’s campaign resumes on 10th January away to Marlow.