Harlow 16, Beccles 25

RUGBY: Beccles picked up a vital win in their relegation clash with Harlow when they came from behind before a late Lake try sealed victory.

Beccles opted for experience in this important game. Johnstone and Paul Wilson returned from injury in the second row and Pitts came into the front row.

In the backs, Murray started at fly-half with Payne and Gedney paired in the centre.

Beccles played the first half up the hill into a strong wind.

They kept ball in hand well but were pinned back inside their own half for long periods. Harlow took the lead with a penalty.

Beccles managed to get into the Harlow half and came away with a try. From a Beccles’ scrum on the Harlow five-metre line, Sale made a break.

He was stopped just short of the line but was able to twist his body and put the ball down behind his head. The conversion was missed.

Harlow put Beccles back into their own half again and had them under pressure for long periods.

They took the lead again with a penalty. Beccles held out until just before half-time when Harlow extended their lead with an unconverted try. This gave a half-time score of 11-5.

Beccles were pleased with their first-half efforts, conceding only a six-point deficit playing into the conditions.

With the wind behind them they were able to pin Harlow in their own half. They quickly drew level with two Murray penalties.

Beccles were going well in the scrum. Even when they lost Pitts to injury, Rob Wilson stepped up into the front row and continued the dominance. Beccles won a scrum on the Harlow five.

They went for the push-over and were stopped only by Harlow infringements.

On the fourth attempt Harlow infringed again and the referee awarded a penalty try. Murray added the conversion.

Harlow made a late surge. After a number of drives at the Beccles line they scored out wide. The conversion was missed to leave Beccles with a two-point lead with two minutes to play.

With time nearly up they had a scrum in the middle of the park.

They drove it forward and Musker McIntyre man-of-the-match Baksza broke from number eight.

He set the ball back to skipper Lake who broke through a gap in the defence and then side-stepped the full-back to score under the posts.

Murray added the conversion to ensure that Harlow did not even get a bonus point for their efforts.

Beccles now face a tough trip to Chelmsford tomorrow, but if they can replicate the performance against Harlow they will have a chance of making it three victories in a row.