Haslemere made it a rousing finale to a stop-start league season with an emphatic victory over London Fire Brigade on Saturday.

It was 'Old Boys Day' at Woolmer Hill and Haslemere's improving young side were roared to victory by a number of well-oiled, illustrious former players.

The heroes of yesteryear always talk a good game from the touchline and are scathing in their criticism of the modern crop, when things go wrong on the pitch.

But there was no mistaking their delight as Haslemere, after a stuttering start, underlined their potential, signing off with two fine tries in the last quarter.

At the old boys' lunch, president-elect Andrew McQuillan had detailed Haslemere's advancement over the last five years, during which the first team had reached Surrey Division Two.

But he set the club's sights on Surrey One and beyond. Indeed, he seemed to set a slightly alarmed Martin Hogwood (club coach) a five-year limit to reach London One!

With the infrastructure they have in place, their considerable investment in junior rugby and, not least, the excellent facilities at Woolmer Hill, Haslemere can certainly go places.

The immediate task is to get out of Surrey Two and to do that they have to be much more consistent (six wins, eight defeats this season).

They were caught napping by a spirited London Fire Brigade who, after falling behind to a Bro Bannatyne penalty, hit Haslemere with a sucker punch.

A tap penalty within kicking range took 'Mere by surprise and Stuart Nixon sprinted over unchallenged in the corner.

Full-back Nixon missed the conversion, but Haslemere now knew they had a game on their hands on the boggy, strength-sapping surface.

They responded in the best way possible and a delightful chip-ahead by wing Adrian Woods sent the speedy James Chapman over in the left-hand corner.

Woods slipped as he attempted the conversion from wide out, but Haslemere, 8-5 ahead, were never to be behind again.

Livewire scrum-half Tom Johnson almost scored after charging down a clearance; that was the face of youthful zest.

In the tight, the evergreen Digby Daly was cranking Haslemere's rolling maul into action and the towering Chris 'Stretch' Babbage invariably climbed highest in the line-out.

Shortly before half-time, second-row Daly got the touch down after Haslemere had trundled forward some 15 metres and Bannatyne's conversion extended the lead to a more healthy 15-5.

The defiant firemen refused to roll over and it became a battle of attrition in the second half, complete with Flanders-like mud.

Centres Ollie King and Chapman, and then Joffy Smith when he came on, made spirited breaks in midfield, but the visitors defended staunchly and then got within striking distance when Nixon slotted over another penalty.

Again, Haslemere found a higher gear just when it was needed. Smith's perfectly weighted pass sent second row Dave Marshall galloping through Fire Brigade's tiring defences for the decisive try and although Bannatyne missed the conversion, Haslemere speedily followed up with another score.

Daly made the early inroads and then fly-half Andy Oxley took up the running, eventually offloading to brother Will, Haslemere's full-back, whose impudent dummy earned him a clear run to the line.

Haslemere: D Woodger, Bannatyne, J Woodger, Marshall, Daly, Babbage, Kerry, Reeve, Johnson, A Oxley, King, Chapman (Smith), Woods, Landerer, W Oxley.

l The next big date in Haslemere's 50th anniversary year is the 'Three Halves' International Festival on Sunday, April 1. This will involve the Sweden national side, a Harlequins All-Stars XV and Haslemere. Junior rugby (young ladies too) will also feature on the programme.