Greenwich Admirals' London League side lost 58-32 against Bedford Tigers, despite a brave performance which promises much for the future in the hot and humid surroundings of Bedford's International Athletics Stadium.

Despite Greenwich losing powerful prop Jon Stallard through injury, there was a moment which will live long in the annals of the club's history, when winger Neil Roberts gathered a kick to crash over in the corner with a Vainikolo-like display of strength for his first try in Greenwich colours.

At the interval Greenwich were 26-14 down but still very much in the game. Indeed, it was the Admirals who started the second half more convincingly with a try by second-rower Rick Phillips.

Even better was to come, as Chris Williams continued his recent rich vein of scoring form, wriggling over from dummy half and adding the conversion to level the scores at 26-all. As the game wore on, though, fatigue and injury took their toll on the Admirals, and Bedford romped through the visitors' tiring defence to rack up 32 points in the last 25 minutes, with Greenwich managing only a second opportunist try from Williams in reply.

Admirals' manager Geoff Williams was philosophical, saying: "We can have no complaints about the result as Bedford were simply too good for us. My players can be proud of putting up such a battling performance in difficult conditions, and the margin of defeat hardly reflects their contribution to a splendid game.

"We'll have a week off now, get ourselves right and bounce back strongly for the London League play-offs."

Greenwich Admirals are currently looking for players of any age and experience for their London League and Rugby League Conference sides. They train at 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Woolwich Barracks Rugby Fields, in Repository Road, Woolwich.

If you are interested in joining the Admirals, call Jason Henley on 07733 356242 or email jason.henley@rfl.uk.com or come to a training session.