Pinner Rugby Club Seconds (Pelicans) agonisingly lost out 24-21 to Mill Hill Seconds in the Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Eight, despite a spirited effort late in the game at Hatch End.

Centre Rohan Desai scored two tries, with second-row Richard Ward scoring the other, but it was ultimately in vain as Mill Hill proved too strong in the end.

The game started brightly for the Pelicans as an extended period of pressure allowed fly-half Don Williams to release Desai, who duly crashed over the line to score the first try of the game.

Williams converted it but the visitors were soon level after a successful scrum allowed them to score a try out wide.

They added another penalty but Desai got them back into the game with some quick thinking from his team mate.

A quick penalty was taken allowing the centre to score his second try and Williams’ conversion ensured they went into the break with a 14-10 lead.

The second half did not go to plan as two converted tries put the visitors 24-14 ahead but the Pelicans refused to give in.

The impressive Desai carved through the opposition defence but was tackled just short of the line. But Ward followed up to score under the posts with Williams converting the try.

It wasn’t enough to avoid defeat but they will have a chance of revenge when they meet them again in the Herts-Middlesex Cup.