THERE are not enough superlatives to describe the bravery of Beckenham's defeat by Canterbury in the NPI Cup.

The runaway league leaders may have expected an easy passage to the next round after their massive win in the league.

But after building up a 16-0 lead by half-time, albeit against the run of play and helped by some strange penalties given by a referee whose interpretation of the laws confused Beckenham, they only won on a 3-2 try countback after extra-time.

The second half was the Brad Ellsworthy show, as he bagged a try and four penalties to tie the score at 19-all and force extra-time.

Amid incredible tension, massive Beckenham pressure led to a try, again for Ellsworthy, to put them 24-19 ahead.

Canterbury, however, rallied, when they levelled with a try of their own. Becks then thought they had won it with seconds to go, when Darren Jordan had a good drop goal disallowed and Ellsworthy just missed a penalty from the halfway line with the last kick of the game.

November 6, 2001 10:41