1st XV chances go west as the team travel to the east.

Although the team found the East London ground in adequate time for their warm-up, the side lost their way as the match started and were second best in almost every aspect of the game. From the kickoff, Hackney were the more determined, running strongly at BE and finding - too easily - holes in their defence. They quickly built up a 10-0 lead after just ten minutes with a converted try (the kick bouncing off the upright and over the post) followed by a penalty goal. Slowly, BE responded although they still had trouble keeping the home side at bay. In the lineots, BE had the better of the teams with JAMES ORAM and MATT GREENWOOD winning all their own plus a lot of the home ball. Despite that possession, there was little drive in midfield and all too often there was no opportunity created. However, BE had a purple patch after 25 minutes when their pack had a rolling maul, from the home 22, which looked a certain try until a Hackney player held up the ball carrier and prevented a try. In the next five minutes, BE had two pushover try attempts, from set scrums, but on each occasion, at the moment of "scoring", ball control was lost and the chances went begging. Hackney added insult by scoring a try before MATT HARRIS landed a late penalty to make it 15-3 at the break.

The second half mirrored the first half as Hackney scored an early try and then a penalty to extend the lead to 23-3. There was still time for BE to regain control but they failed to do so with too many attacks being too well sign-posted and with no obvious Plan B. A lot of BE ball went nowhere whilst Hackney continued to threaten. As the match went into the final phases, the home side scored a fourth try, to give them a bonu point: the try was converted before ROBBIE CAMERON-STAFF managed to squeeze through for a try with SEAN BLAKE converting.

League leaders, Kilburn Cosmos, are the visitors to Byng Road for Saturday's home match - kick-ff is 2.30pm.

PGY