Narrow but deserved win gives the 1sts XV a 50% win ratio.

48 hours of heavy rain, including the morning of the match, coupled with a heavy downpour in the first half, made the main pitch quite waterlogged in places and fears that it could cut-up quite badly for other forthcoming games, including the Academy who were scheduled to play on it the next day. As it turned out, the pitch was not too badly damaged.

Nevertheless, it meant it was not a classic game of rugby although still entertaining with attack and counter-attack throughout the 80 minutes. After a healthy opening spell, with the 1st XV driving up-field and having almost the monopoly of possession, UCS took back control and, with the slope in their advantage in the first half, they kept BE back in the home 22 for long periods. Good defending stopped much of this although UCS squeezed through a gap close to the posts t score a converted try. That was the only score of the half so BE's were quite happy to attack that small deficit when they were playing with the slope after the break.

They dominated the line-out through JAMES ORAM and CHRIS BLOMILEY, coupled with good support off the ball caught. From one line-out 5 metres, from the away try line, SEAN BLAKE supported the ball collected to score in the right-hand corner. SEAN thought he was on the point of scoring a second try, minutes later after open play, but the referee had already blown for offside in the UCS back-line so HARRY EADE slotted the simple penalty to give BE an 8-7 lead. That became 13-7 when HARRY EADE finished off a kick and chase to score a try.

BE had almost the rest of the half, although there were still a few scares as UCS tried to salvage the game: JAMES ORAM was just short of the try line in one move whilst TOBY SMITH actually over-ran the ball which had died just under the pots with UCS back in time to touch down. By then, the differences in shirt colours made it difficult to see who was who. However, BE saw out the game and win to end up with the four match points and fifth place in the table. They are now one place behind, and two points below, Cheshunt whom they meet at the Rosedale Sports Centre this Saturday (14th) at 2.30 pm.

PGY