Lady Luck was not smiling on the 1st XV on Saturday

A victory over unbeaten Kilburn Cosmos was certainly on the cards going into the final quarter. Admittedly, they led only 5-3 but the visitors seemed unlikely to score other than from penalty attempts - their three points had come in the 55th minute from one such offence. However, in the last twenty minutes, BE's grip on the game loosened, not helped by conceding a series of penalties although too far out to cause them any worry. Unfortunately, KC seized upon what little ball they were winning by forcing an overlap on the right wing for the try and conversion which put them into the lead at 5-10. Ten minutes from time, a feeble penalty goal attempt just had the legs to cross the bar to take the visitors two scores ahead and also deny BE the losing bonus point they deserved although, in reality, BE should have taken all four win points, such was their overall play.

BE held out at the start when KC put two strong attacks in the opening minutes but then the home team settled down, not just in the pack but also in the backs where they won a lot of line-out and set scrum ball and used it wisely going uphill. Chances came on both wings and in the centre with many good drives - DAN TAYLOR was outstanding in these quarters - and at leas two scoring chances were denied by feet on the touch-line with metres to go. After 15 minutes, a further attack led to HARRY AVENT going over for a try. It seemed as if other home scores were due but BE were always denied narrowly. In the line-out, the usual dou of PETER MOULTON and JAMES ORAM had outstanding success with their own and opposition ball, helped by good support play, and the backs kept driving forward., again with support, although could never deliver the telling pass to release a player to the line. For Kilburn, they lived ff a few scraps and never threatened BE's line since the early minutes.

In the second half, BE kept up the possession domination, if not quite the territorial domination, although the visitors kicked their penalty after 15 minutes of the restart. They never looked like the dominant side that the League table suggested but they pressed on and squeezed the goal and penalty that just kept their unbeaten record intact whilst BE earned nothing for a full all-round team performance.

There is no game this Saturday - Cup weekend - but the 1st XV are away to London Nigerians on 6th December at 2.15pm (next to Wormwood Scrubbs Prison).

PGY