Barnet Elizabethans 29pts Imperial Medicals 10pts

It is over 20 years since Byng Road has seen a Herts/Middx League match as the new Club has had higher status from even before the merger. As the match started, it seemed as if the team were making a bid for automatic promotion as they dominated the opening 20 minutes with relentless ball and territorial advantage although they could not convert all this into scores, the only one coming from a CHARLIE MAYS penalty, with other goal attempts missed. Then, against the run of play, the Medicals scored a soft try when their loose-head prop brushed aside a weak tackle and ran through for a simple converted try. The visitors kicked a penalty goal and saw another rebound off the BE posts. This proved to be the wake-up call for BE who equalised right on half time: the ball went loose in midfield and, as ever, BE were quicker and recycled it to the left wing, leaving ROBBIE CAMERON-STAFF the pace and space to round his man and then under the posts for CHARLIE MAYS to add the conversion. 10-10 at the interval.

The question of whether the BE's strength or the Imps' speed would dominate the second half was quickly answered when BE won most of the ball, and used it very well: whatever ball the visitors won was quickly smothered or, often, turned over. The BE pack, on another day, could have had half a dozen scores but they kept up the pressure as they drove at the goal-line regularly, once allowing debutant SANJAY DEWAN his first try in 1st XV colours with CHARLIE MAYS doing the honours. The third try, to ensure the win, came when another pack drive saw CHRIS BROMILEY touch down with CHARLIE MAYS adding the extras. The pressure was relentless and this proved decisive as it led to the visitors dropping the ball on their goal line, leaving a simple try for DAVID LEADBITTER - this gave the team the extra bonus point - with CHARLIE MAYS finishing off with a conversion.

The 1st XV are away to Verulamians on saturday: kick-off at Cotlandswick is 3pm.

PGY