It's a marathon not a sprint, so they say, but that simile is on ice for next weekend when Senor Reevaldo demonstrates his renowned stamina in front of a global TV audience. A more topical sporting endurance analogy this last weekend was the Grand National, a gruelling chase over a hoof-wearing four and a half miles in which even the most finely tuned of equine athletes struggles to last the course.

The field in Saturday's 2002 Aintree Martell Grand National, to give it its full title, boasted a runner with the fateful name of 'Logician'. Any punters who might have fancied a flutter on this outsider, and who were not familiar with the characteristic traits of sporting Logicians, were quickly warned off by the racing pundits. "Stamina must be a big doubt," screamed one national broadsheet previewing Logician's chances on the morning of the big race. Most other experts were in agreement that this particular nag, trained by one I. Balding, "liked the going to be soft," and it was thus no surprise that Logician duly fell at the first fence. The claim that our hero had been brought down fell on the familiarly deaf ears that generally greet a Banoub penalty appeal.

And so it was that another fourteen sporting Logicians took to the field on Sunday morning with a similar reputation for failing to last the distance. They also came up against a proven thoroughbred in London Radnor, currently sitting in second place in the race for the Division Two Championship. And Radnor had more than justified their position as the bookies favourite after winning at a canter the last time these two runners were in the same field.

It wasn't even as if the Logicians' Trainer had the luxury of picking some horses for courses. The Groom himself was unavailable, as was Brown who had a prior engagement with a donkey Derby, and a late injury to Hoyzone ensured that the squad more or less picked itself. The consolation was a debut opportunity for Geordie youngster David Holton.

Quite remarkably it was the Logicians who were fastest out of the stalls, employing the novel strategy of running the race from the front. Within minutes of the start, the home side were applying some concerted pressure that resulted in the first goal. A long throw from Holton into the box caused problems, and could only be headed half clear. The ball fell to Craig Taylor fifteen yards out, and he hit the sweetest of first-time half volleys which fizzed into the top left hand corner [1-0].

Buoyed by getting their noses in front, Logica continued to dominate. Reevaldo and Gautam were proving a dexterous pairing in the centre, and the runner and rider combination of Fazel and Abbott up front were stretching the Radnor back line. Right back Holton looked more than comfortable in this company, frequently getting in some solid tackles to regain possession, and regularly feeding the galloping Field down the right flank with some intelligent passes.

Indeed, the Logica back four had a very solid look about it until a moment's lapse in concentration allowed Radnor to draw level. A quick throw-in caught the home side flat footed and a volleyed cross into the danger area was prodded home from close range [1-1]. The Logicians consequently faced their first hurdle, but unlike their namesake the previous day, they negotiated it in some style. Within minutes of the restart it was a long throw from Taylor on the other flank that was causing the problems. Abbott jumped highest to head the ball back to strike partner Fazel, whose measured first time shot was precisely placed just inside the near post [2-1].

Having regained the lead, the Logicians found their stride and threatened to run their opponents out of the race. Taylor had already gone close with an attempted lob when Gautam collected the ball in a little space midway inside the Radnor half. Abbott was screaming for a pass to his right, but the Logica midfielder had a better idea. He had spotted the keeper slightly off his line, and Abbott was still fruitlessly demanding the ball (“Come on, come on!”) as it sailed exquisitely over a flailing hand and dipping just under the bar [3-1]. Perhaps Abbott feels that he has the copyright on the lob, but that's now two games for Gautam since returning from injury and two superb goals, following his long range strike against Townmead.

The Logica back four continued an impressive domination of their opponents who had practically no clear-cut chances before the break. The marking was so tight that Radnor were reduced to hoofing long hopeful balls which usually ran through to Pendleton or out for a goal kick. On the few occasions when they did get close to the Logica penalty area, the tackling of Hatton, Trovato, Mainwaring and Holton was the very epitome of perfect timing.

With confidence boosted by such a solid foundation, Logica even had the temerity to add a fourth goal before the half way point. A beautifully crafted thing it was too, and would have had the commentators racing for their 'straight from the training ground' clichés had Logica ever demeaned themselves enough to dabble in training. Reevaldo and Abbott played their near post one-two corner routine to perfection, and the Hackney Holester capitalised by flighting a superb cross to the back stick. Logica players were queuing up, but it was Field who leapt salmonically to plant a firm header in the back of the net [4-1].

There is no such thing as an unassailable lead where Logica are concerned, but this was about as close as you could get. Not only were they three lengths clear of a quality field at the turn for home, but the advantage was fully justified by their dominance in every department. Abbott jockeyed his charges during the interval, employing the verbal whip in an effort to ensure the lead was maintained.

Radnor replaced one of their strikers at the break and tried to step up a gear, strangely believing they could pull back a three goal deficit against such impressive opponents. They applied some early pressure and Logica showed their first signs of vulnerability. Within a minute of the restart, a low drive flashed across Logica's goal mouth and just inches wide of the far post, but it was another quickly taken throw-in shortly afterwards that caught the leaders napping, and the chance was converted clinically [4-2].

This acted as a bit of a wake-up call, and the Logicians quickly rediscovered their stride. Radnor were playing with more purpose now, but the home defence was once again resolute and their two-goal lead remained comfortably in tact for the next fifteen minutes. The Logica attack still looked capable of adding to their tally, even if the threat was now more sporadic. But the first hour's good work was all undone in a completely marish fifteen minutes. The tide turned with the same swiftness as the Radnor striker, whose low shot seemed to be covered by Pendleton until the Bobble Gods intervened to send the ball cavorting wickedly up and over the goalkeeper's outstretched arm [4-3].

If that was not enough, midfield linchpin Dav Gautam then had to leave the field of play to go and meet someone else who was flying. Logica were still adapting to this personnel reshuffle when Radnor struck an equaliser from a corner. The ball was twice cleared off the line by the new substitute Sutton before a third effort was bundled home [4-4]. Logica tried to stem this goal haemorrhaging by bringing on another fresh pair of legs, the tiring Field making way for Howarth. But to no avail, and Radnor quickly added two further goals courtesy of a low shot and a powerful header from a corner [4-6].

The Logicians were stunned. It seemed only minutes ago that they had been romping home to a comfortable victory. Now not only had they been caught up in the final straight, but they had been overtaken at speed and in severe danger of being pipped at the post. Out came the whip again and to be fair the players responded positively. A devilish cross from Mainwaring found three Logica players getting in each other's way eight yards out, and then Taylor sent Abbott away down the left, but his elaborate dummy inside anti-climaxed in a weak shot straight at the keeper.

This excellent match was now end to end stuff, with Logica's raids being interspersed with Radnor counter-attacks. Twice Pendleton was called upon to pull off spectacular fingertip saves as the visitors tried to kill off the Logician's late rally. The deficit should perhaps have been reduced when Abbott flighted a measured cross in behind the Radnor keeper. The ball fell to Banoub beyond the far post, but his attempt to slot home into an unguarded net was hampered by the bounce of the ball. Noobie was unable to get any pace in his difficult volley, and the keeper managed to scramble back to grasp his shot before it crossed the line.

Noobie made amends minutes later when another Abbott-Reeves corner combination created a goal. It was a repeat of a routine executed minutes earlier, when Abbott's near post header had been cleared off the goal line, but this time Banoub stooped to head his strike partner's flick just inside the near post [5-6].

Logica did everything in their power to obtain something from a game in which for the most part they had impressed. Sutton's pace caused problems down the left, and two shots from the substitute required saves from the Radnor keeper. Logica's final chance in an exhilarating game fell to Banoub. Abbott held the ball up before laying it into the path of the Boro man. Banoub unleashed a blistering drive from twenty yards but unfortunately it was just too close to the keeper. Logica's late charge to the finishing line proved to be in vain, and Radnor had won by a nose.

Ultimately the pundits' view that Logica did not quite have the stamina to go the distance against in-form opponents proved correct. But those in the Groom stable can at least take heart from some much improved form that should stand them in good stead for the remainder of the season. Next week they will start as the bookies' favourite when they come up against lowly South West Eighteen, and three points are vital from this meeting if they are to maintain their safe position in the middle of the pack.