Barnet Elizabethans 49pts Verulamians 13pts

The story started the day before the match when a herd of cows, from a nearby Arkley farm, broke through at the bottom left-hand corner of the ground and enjoyed themselves on the lush first team pitch as well leaving their mark in a number of places. However, the efforts of stalwarts - Bobby Graham, Shaun Harris and Bryan Bell - to clear the mess, allowed the referee to decide the game could start and the players responded with a very good seven try performance that guaranteed them a bonus win point whilst HARRY EADE recorded a 100% success rate with his goal kicking with all tries being converted and no attempts at penalty goals.

The first try came inside the first minute: V's cleared the BE kick-off but only to find full back MATT NICHOLAS on the half way line and BE's 15 burst through - one of his several strong runs all game - into the away 22, from where the BE pack supported him and released HARRY AVENT for a good try under the posts with HARRY EADE converting easily. However, V's responded and, after some pressure on BE, the visitors equalised with a converted try. At this stage, the opposition were dangerous, especially with a mobile loose pack as well as heavy weights in the set scrum. After a period of attack and counter-attack, by both teams, BE took back control with two slickly taken tries - first by CHRIS BLOMILEY and secondly by SANJAY DEWAN, the latter chasing up his chip kick into the V's goal area. With both tries converted by HARRY EADE, BE were 21-7 ahead although Vs reduced this to 21-10 with a scuffed penalty kick at the interval.. Five minutes later, after a second successful penalty, the score was 21-13 and BE had to defend resolutely for the next ten minutes as Vs kept them within ten metres of their goal line.

Eventually, BE cleared their line and never looked back as the period of pressure without a score seemed to deflate the visitors who then went on to make errors with their ball possession. To their credit, BE took full advantage of this, first when MATT NICHOLAS scooped up poor line-out ball and then made another characteristic break through the V's backs to score under the posts. Minutes later, when V's made an absolute hash of the ball ten metres from their line, BE pounced before releasing ADRIAN TODD for a try under the posts. The game was already over by then, with HARRY EADE adding the extras to stretch BEs lead to 35-13 before two late tries, in the final ten minutes, by MATT HARRIS and JAMES ORAM killed off the visitors with HARRY EADE converting both tries for a thoroughly successful kicking display by the fly half.

The Fixture List shows BE away to Haringey Rhinos this Saturday (28th) but with the Haringey pitch being relaid the match is switched to Byng Road - kick off is 3pm.

PGY