A narrow win but the 1st XV drop a League place.

Ironically, they were on the point of scoring the vital fourth try - SAM MARKS had beaten his man on the right wing and had a clear run to the line - when the referee blew up for a general brawl in the forwards, some forty metres back where the move to release Sam started: the consequence was that two players - RICKY STEVENS and a Bank forward - were sin-binned whilst the chance to score was lost. That scenario almost came and bit the team on the proverbial when the Bank scored their second try, less than ten minutes from time, to reduce the deficit and leave a tense last few minutes for the BE players which, fortunately, they saw through to safety.

There was little between the teams, generally, as both sets of backs defended very well: BE's forwards, especially in the lineouts, had the upper hand, with MATT GREENWOOD outstanding in the middle, but the Bank were determined to run most of their ball and that fully tested the BE backs, which they did well.

After seeing little of the ball in the opening period, other than two long range penalty attempts by CHARLIE MAYS both of which went wide, BE scored just after ten minutes when a classic BE lineout catch-and-drive move saw the forwards drive towards the line with LLOYD MORGAN touching down, ably supported by JAMES ORAM in protecting BE's ball. But the Bank responded almost immediately when they ran the ball, found space and scored a converted try to put them into a narrow lead. Again, it was BEs pack that set up their second try - they drove the home side fully 15 metres back, with LLOYD MORGAN once again securing safe ball -before it was released to the backs where PETER MOULTON literally crashed his way through from 22 metres out, running through one home player and brushing aside two others, before scoring a try with CHARLIE MAYS rifling through the conversion from wide out.
The Bank scored a penalty goal to trail 10-12 at the interval.

BE upped their game in the second half and their third try was a beauty - CHARLIE MAYS chipped the ball over the advancing home backs, collected the ball himself and then released the other backs before ROBBIE CAMERON-STAFF showed his pace on the left wing to beat the defence and score under the posts to leave CHARLIE MAYS a simple conversion to finish off the move he had started. It looked as if BE would close out the game - SAM MARKS was denied doing so - but the Bank fought back and deserved their try even if it meant a narrow win for BE in the end.

BE play Cheshunt at home this Saturday (30th) at 2.30pm.

PGY