OLD VERULAMIANS hosted lower league Enfield Old Ignatians in the NPI Cup on Saturday and proved too strong for their visitors, with a Ben Dickson hat-trick helping them to a 48-11 victory.

Although Enfield began tenaciously, the Vees' forwards provided a solid platform with loose forwards, Thomas and Chambers, as well as number eight, Anderson, securing plenty of phase posession which enabled the hosts to score with regular ease.

Dickson opened the Vees account, finishing a sharp blind side break by Roberts with Tawhara converting.

Roy Dube, converting to centre from loose forward, showed his strength and skill in setting up Kinnear for the second and as the tempo of the game increased, Vees' confidence grew and some impressive expansive moves led to a further score from Anderson as well as a conversion and a penalty to see Vees go into the half-time break 29-6 ahead.

Vees continued to pressurise in the second half and Chris Leigh made an immediate impact as a sub, stealing the ball and setting up a strong run in by Dickson with Tawhara again converting.

A superb length-of-the-field support move featuring wing Gardner was rounded off by Tawhara under the posts while Dickson secured his hat-trick after supporting a fine break by Ogden to complete the scoring and fire Vees into the next round.

November 8, 2001 15:30