The winnning bonus point takes the 1st XV into third place.

It was a pity that more Vice Presidents and Life Members, who lunched well courtesy of Nick and Lorraine, did not see the juggernaut, which is the 1st XV tactics, go through the gears before some storming moves leading up to each of their four tries and the extra bonus point.

It was a strange start to the game with aerial ping-pong for most of the first five minutes, each side testing the other's defence out or hoping the ball would just drop dead on the soggy pitch, After then, the teams did play rugby although for almost half an hour it was only CHARLIE MAYS penalty that divided the scores. SEAN BLAKE made several telling runs whilst PETER MOULTON marshalled the middle of the lineouts, cleanly taking the ball but the 1st XV could not shake off a spirited OM team. LLOYD MORGAN dashed around and made good ground. It took until just before the 30th minute before BE scored again - they picked up loose ball in midfield which PETER MOULTON put to good use with a typical storming run before a clever kick and chase through, MOULTON's try being converted by CHARLIE MAYS. It seemed as if that gave the 1st XV belief and it came in the form of a text-book driving maul, from 18 metres out, with good ball control at the base giving LLOYD MORGAN the try with CHARLIE MAYS converting to give the team a 17-0 lead. There was an unusual end to the half: the OM hooker went down heavily with a wrenched arm and shoulder so the referee told both sides to move away whilst the treatment was given: BE went into the changing room whilst OM stayed outside, both teams expecting to play the remaining few minutes on the restart. As it was, the half time coincided with the break.

Despite now playing uphill, the 1st XV were positive, none more so than when they launched a counter-attack from their own 22 which RICCI PERSOCI added momentum to with a storming run up the right wing. His cross kick found the supporting pack and it looked as if JAMES ORAM had scored a try but the referee decided it was a an OM put-in at the 5 metre scrum which BE duly wheeled to make it their put-in, the pushover attempt giving SANJAY DEWAN a simple try which CHARLIE MAYS converted. By now, CHARLIE MAYS was getting good ground with his kicking to touch or uphfield, none more evident than when another kick caused trouble for the away team with ADRIAN TODD scoring the vital fourth try.

With MOULTON replaced, due to injury, BE's control dimmed a bit and in the late stages OM scored two tries, one converted, but that did not alter the fact that the 1st XV were well deserving winners on the day.

There is no 1st XV game this weekend: instead, they play on 23rd November at Bank of England at 2.30pm in the League.

PGY