This win takes the 1st XV up to second place, level with Kilburn Cosmos

Byng Road was the place to be on Saturday to see entertaining rugby by two sides committed to attack whilst both were solid in defence, too. This was a marvellous example of Club rugby at its finest.

The BE pack were behind the success, particularly at the lineouts where JAMES ORAM cleaned up at the front (and not only on his throw-in), CHRIS BLOMILEY and LUKE McCARTHY did likewise in the middle of the line with RICKY STEVENS cleaning up the tail. OAs were frustrated at BE's dominance that they quickly abandoned throws to the centre or front. In the scrums, it was somewhat frustrating to see the BE pack, especially the front row, being pinged for wheeling, driving before the ball was in or letting their opposite number stand up. Anyway, they still won most of the ball. In the backs, though, whilst BE were good, the OA three-quarters were very dangerous so it needed strong defence at times.

OA scored after five minutes with a penalty goal before BE took the lead after ten minutes: DAVID LEADBITTER tore down the right wing before being supported by SEAN BLAKE who, in turn, found ADRIAN TODD on the inside and the centre ran through for the try which MATT HARRIS converted. As ever, OAs rallied and had a very promising attack going into BE's 22 when lightning reaction by ROBBIE CAMERON-STAFF saw a chance as he intercepted a pass and then raced through from 90 metres out to score a wonderful try, also converted by MATT HARRIS. The two teams slugged it out, in attack and defence, but with BE giving away too many penalties the away side took a second penalty goal chance. In midfield, ADRIAN TODD was on his usual run when he crashed (fairly) into his opposite centre: unfortunately, the loose ball went on the OA side and they ran in a try to make it 14-11 at the interval.

OA tore at BE's line in the second half - they were denied, by inches, two possibly try scoring chances - and levelled with another penalty goal. The game ebbed and flowed, although mainly from OA despite BE's lineout possession where many of the home pack performed well in the loose, none more so than JAMES ORAM. As the game went into its final quarter, BE took back control and they started to shunt the OA pack backwards in the loose and used the ball well. From one such move, JAMES ORAM found himself clear and he ran through for an unconverted try. By now, BE had the bit between their teeth and with more lineout ball coming it was more likely there would be another home score: this came when the lineout won the ball and SEAN BLAKE lobbed the ball over the advancing OA backs, the ball being pounced upon by PETER MOULTON who ran through unopposed for the vital bonus-point fourth try which MATT HARRIS also converted.

The 1st XV - and all Senior teams - have a blank Saturday this coming weekend but are back on league duty away to Hackney on 26th October.

PGY