Bank of England 14pts Barnet Elizabethans 25pts

This was a reasonable all-round performance although some errors were still made, principally a few missed tackles which could have been more costly: also, poor goal kicking where at least eleven points went begging. On a positive note, the pack and backs worked well, the win being achieved by the strength of the BE pack and some solid tackling in the backs.

BE got off to a good start with an early [GLYN BAYLEY/b] penalty. From there, SANJAY DEWAN directed all his players, from scrum half, and there were many positive moves along the three-quarters as well as driving moves in the pack: the scrums were controlled well, as were most of the line-outs. From all this territorial and possession advantages, it was a surprise when the Bank of England took the lead after their nippy inside centre broke clear from rather weak tackling in mid-field to run in a simple try which was converted. Immediately, BE responded with a forward drive which ended with right-wing [b]RHYS BEACHAM going over for a good individual and team try. The conversion went wide, despite the try being close to the posts, but BE still led 8-7. Then, in the final five minutes of the first half, BE were camped deep in the Bank's 22 and then on the home five metre line where they had scrum after scrum, with BE put-in each time, the ball going to the back of the scrum as the BE pack went for a pushover: time after time, a penalty was awarded for a home player interfering until, after about the sixth scrummage offence, the referee awarded a penalty try, converted under the posts by GLYN BAYLEY. Unlike the England v Fiji match, a yellow card was not shown for the persistent offences.

So, it was 15-7 advantage to BE at the break and they continued to dominate proceedings in most phases, especially in the forwards. In his usual imitable way, LLOYD MORGAN relished the driving maul as he controlled the ball from the base of the diving pack. It was LLOYD MORGAN who scored the third try, from, such a move, supported by his team mates. The next try, which earned the bonus point, came from an equally standard drive in the pack, this time with LUKE WLLIAMS going over. Neither try was converted. Instead of going for the kill, BE let the Bank back into the game, especially with some more weak tackling and this allowed the home side a second converted try with five minutes left.

The 1st XV are at home to Hillingdon Abbotts (a new team for them) with kick-off at 2pm.

PGY