Barking 42, Southend 11
ON a day billed as 'The Battle of Essex' Southend were found wanting. Saturday's National Two South fixture turned into a rout as Barking romped away in the second half.
With Andrew Frost and James Armitage sidelined through injury, things started brightly enough. Danny Cleare was given space on the left and ran thirty meters to touch down in the corner. Dan Boughtwood missed the difficult conversion and Southend moved into a five point lead.
Barking pegged it back when their impressive fly half Craig Ratford landed a penalty but the lead was restored when Dan Boughtwood responded with one of his own, moving the scoreboard to 3 - 8.
Southend were strangely lethargic resulting in knock ons, turn-overs, aimless kicking and missed tackles. They were soon punished when Barking's elusive wing Scott Shaw gathered the ball and ran at the Southend defensive line, he must have broken or avoided five or six attempted tackles as he ran through and touched down. 8 - 8.
Barking had found a weakness, direct running would pay dividends. It came as no surprise when their full back Chris Jones saw his chance, breaking tackles he also ran through to score another try taking them into a lead they were never to relinquish 13 - 8.
Dan Boughtwood scored Southend's last points of the game when he kicked another penalty in the thirty first minute. With the score remaining the same at half time the Southend faithful were hoping that the break would give the coaches time to galvanise Southend.
It was not to be, if anything they seemed even quieter. Barking were on their toes, Southend on their heels. Barking kicked off deep into Southend territory, the attempted gather was fumbled and the ball knocked on. From the resulting Barking scrum the ball was moved swiftly to fly half Ratford who ran through yet more missed tackles, adding a further five points and the conversion, 20 - 11.
Southend never recovered, they spent the rest of the half defending. On the only occasion they successfully found a five meter touch from a penalty, they were penalised for taking too long to throw the ball in.
More tries followed, Kellard, Vincent and another from winger Jones saw the points pile on in Barking's favour with all three being converted by Ratford together with another penalty. The game finished 42 - 11 with Barking worthy winners of 'The Battle of Essex'.
Barking moved to top of the league and retained their one hundred percent home record, Southend dropped back to fifth.
Westcliff 53, Brentwood 10
Westcliff got back to winning ways with a very good win that was described by director of rugby Bob Smith as “efficient and at times clinical.”
The match was a “double-header” as the clubs had been draw against each other in the Essex Cup and it was decided to combine the two into one rather than meet for a third time.
It was not long before the home side were on the scoreboard with Paul Radley making a lot of ground before handing on to Shaun du Plessis, coming in to the line from full back to score a try. Ben McKeith's conversion attempt hit a post.
Westcliff's forwards gained the upper hand at times up front and by wheeling and dealing managed to poach three Brentwood put-ins.
Outstanding in the visitors' defence was the full back who showed early on that he was not a man to be frightened of the high ball or charging forwards.
The home side soon increased the lead when Paul Dan got in for a try that was goaled by Ben McKeith for 12-0.
The same player was on target again as few moments later with a penalty goal and again minutes after that with another to make it 18-0.
Brentwood showed they needed watching as they took advantage of Westcliff losing the ball near the line to score a try.
A superb passing move saw the ball move 75 metres and Elliott Harvey cross the line for a try to make it 23-5. Ben McKeith's conversion made it 25-5.
Soon it was 30-5 with Elliott Harvey again showing speed and agility to notch his second try. A penalty by Ben McKeith took it to 33-5 at the switch round.
Early in the second half it was Brentwood's turn to lose control of the ball and James Culwick was on hand to pick-up and speed over for a try and 38-5.
Play got a bit scrappy but then Westcliff regained the initiative, aided by a Ben McKeith penalty goal that took it to 41-5.
Once more a superb inter-passing move brought Westcliff to the Brentwood line but the ball was cleared and for the firsts time in a while, Brentwood were on the attack.
They were driven back and Tom Lemon was on hand to score a try and 46-5. The visitors would not roll over and fought their way upfield and from a rolling maul, scored a deserved try.
Paul Radley, who had shown speed and inventiveness on the left wing at last got his reward and hoisted the half-century with a try that was converted by Ben McKeith.
“The match, was snowed off in January, showed spectators that the loss at Civil Service was water under the bridge, lessons had been learned and the boys wanted to show what they could do,” said Westcliff press officer Geoff Sawyer.
“It was a good farewell for Tom Lemon, a master at Westcliff High School for Boys. He is leaving Britain to take up a business appointment in Fiji. We will miss him and wish him all the best.”
Thurrock 25, Ipswich 19
THURROCK held on for a win in London North Two but will hope in future matches to avoid the late drama and lack of discipline in the closing stages that could have cost them dear.
Ipswich went on the attack from kick-off but were caught cold by Thurrock who broke away from 85 metres to touch down under the posts.
And the hosts produced almost a carbon copy soon afterwards, going on to extend the lead to 17-0 at half time.
Ipswich didn’t lie down and David Pulemagafa produced two tries before Thurrock showed just why they have lost only once all season when they came back with another try again only feeding off the visitors mistakes.
The hosts did however then lose their discipline racking up four yellow cards from the determined pressure and Ipswich fullback Ryan Potkins finished off a set move to score and make things interesting at 19-25.
Despite continued pressure on the league leaders in the last quarter, playing deep inside the hosts half there just wasn't enough time for Ipswich to complete their comeback.
Basildon 52, South Woodham Ferrers 0
BASILDON produced an emphatic victory against their visitors that belied their close proximity in London Three North-East.
They were dominant throughout and the forwards gave a particularly dominant performance with number eight Mathew Bryan collecting a hat-trick of tries.
Fellow forwards John Hickey, Steve Burnett, Jim Harman and Marc Chandler also crossed while the sole scorer in the back division was Zac Jones.
Lee Randall completed six successful kicks. Basildon still harbour top two hopes and face a crucial test at third--placed Wisbech at the weekend.
Beccles 39, Dagenham 10
DAGENHAM’S woes continue at the wrong end of London Three North East but they were far from overwhelmed in the context of the whole match by the league leaders.
Billericay 36, Lowestoft & Yarmouth 3
BILLERICAY produced a remarkable performance to topple their high-flyng visitors.
The home side remain at the bottom of London Three North-East but will draw great heart from this win.
Canvey Island 13 Wisbech 15
CANVEY will rue this London Three North East defeat as a lost opportunity.
They took the lead through centre Matt Lay on the back of a very string opening spell and his try was converted by Damon Cooper.
Wisbech then bounced back with an unconverted try and a penalty to take the lead.
Cooper put Canvey back in front with a drop goal, followed by a penalty.
It looked as if that would be enough to secure victory but the visitors set up a late onslaught and eventually Canvey cracked with a late converted try sealing the points.
Canvey remain second but club spokesman Richard Smith said: “It’s tight at the top end now and we cannot afford to drop points in our remaining games.”