After the Lord Mayor's Show..................

....the final game of the 1st XV season was a drab affair between two teams struggling in the lower half of the League Table. For the Firsts, they had not won since before Easter and for much of the second half it seemed as if it would be a dismal final month to the season.

That seemed impossible after just 80 seconds: BE kicked off, their forwards won the ball immediately and it was quickly recycled across their back line to send TOBY SMITH for a simple try outside on the left wing. Minutes later, the same player was on the point of scoring a second before the referee called play back for some earlier infringement. the game lost its way for some time before LUKE WILLIAMS doubled the BE score with a try, both conversion attempts being missed. It looked as if the game might be under "home" control but the bank kicked a penalty goal before GLYN BAYLEY, in his imitable way, poached a try from the half-way line with an interception that gave hm an easy run in for the third try which he converted himself.

17-3 at half time but still to play uphill: within five minutes that became 17-17 as the Bank came out storming and scored tow swift tries with both converted. The visitors had the upper hand, by now, with BE's discipline not helping, generally - GLYN BAYLEY had been sin-binned before half time - and they took the lead with a penalty goal from one of many penalties the BE side conceded. When he returned, sinner cum saint GLYN BAYLEY landed a 30 metre drop goal to level the scores. Both sides had further penalty kick attempts although none was successful and the game ended in stalemate, which summed up the match.

For the Firsts, CHRIS BROMILEY and JAMES ORAM dominated the line-outs but BE were second best in the set scrum although their pack were superior in the loose scrum but could not take full advantage. There were good performances by MATT NICHOLAS, at full back, and by LUKE WILLIAMS in the back row.