In doing so, they would have moved away from the relegation threat. Instead, the team remain rooted in fourth from bottom place - this season, there is every likelihood that four teams will be relegated - so this was a vital match to win and get clear of the other teams in mid table.

The match started well enough with the 1sts playing with the bitterly cold win at their backs but the early pressure could not be converted into points. In the 7th minute, and with their first visit into BE's half, Hitchin scored a converted try as a result of a weak and wayward clearance kick, aided by missed tackles. From the restart, BE continued to dominate, territorially, but a series of errors made it easier for Hitchin to defend: on the 34th minute, GLYN BAYLEY kicked a rare penalty award for the team. However, in the next few minutes, BE's chances were knocked backwards by two injuries - JIM MANSFIELD suffered an ankle injury (he was replaced by DAN TAYLOR) and then DUMIE SIBANDA suffered a shoulder injury (he was replaced by JONNO WILKINS after a reshuffle of the pack). The pack still dominated, though, but the penalty count against BE still rose so Hitchin could clear their lines.

A second GLYN BAYLEY penalty gave the home side some hope - on the stroke of half time, a third penalty attempt hit a post, making the half time score 6-7. The second half was similar to the first: play was largely in the Hitchin half but nothing came of this. Instead, Hitchin went further ahead from a penalty for careless offside before GLYN BAYLEY struck his third kick. In the 66th minute, BE conceded a very soft try when one of the away props was allowed to stroll through from 30 metres: the conversion made it 9-20 before another penalty against let the visitors extend this to 9-23.

Had BE scored quickly afterwards there was a chance of saving the game but they were unable to break through until the 38th minute when, following a lineout on the 5 metre line, the ball went infield and JONNO WILKINS crashed over for a try. Had the conversion gone over, BE would have gained a vital losing bonus point but it was missed, despite being in front of the posts, and so, too, did any chance of that point.

The 1st XV have a very awkward away match on Saturday (2nd) at Old Priorians, the league leaders who won 18-12 at Byng Road in November. It will need a herculean effort to gain something from this game and move clear of the bottom four and nearer to other mid-table teams.

PGY

Barnet Elizabethans RFC

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