Old Mid-Whitgiftians held on in a nail biting extra time finish to secure their place in the third round of the Intermediate Cup at the expense of Sidcup on Saturday.

With two minutes of extra time to go and the scores at 20-17 to Old Mids, the Sidcup fly half crucially turned down an easy shot at goal and elected instead for a scrum on the Mids' 22-metre line.

Having missed an unmissable' kick in front of the posts in the first period of extra time, Sidcup's outside half lost his nerve to try again.

The penalty goal would have given Sidcup victory by virtue of a two to one superior try count, but Sidcup's bulky forwards lost the ball and the Old Mids cleared to safety after 100 minutes of rugby.

In the first five minutes of the match the Old Mids had worked the ball from the kick-off into the Sidcup half, with Sillitto's drive resulting in a try to the right of the posts.

In response, the Old Mids defence was pierced by the incisive running of the Sidcup centres. But this breathless first five minutes gave way to closely fought stalemate.

Sidcup's backs were ever-dangerous as they sought the openings left in the Mids defence by an increasingly tired pack who battled to stand firm against a heavier Sidcup eight.

Dan Crouch showed exemplary coolness by converting nearly every kick he took and the Sidcup fliers only managed to snatch one further try.

In the loose, Jarod Edwards excelled and was instrumental alongside captain Nick Shillabeer in keeping Mids going.

After 80 minutes with the scores level at 17 all, both teams looked exhausted, Shillabeer rallied his team, insisting that a win would get the team's so-far disappointing season back on track.

The team responded with last gasp tackles and Dan Crouch showed his big match nerves in the first period of extra time by kicking a decisive penalty.

Watson then missed his easy kick. More scrapping ensued until the final whistle was blown and an exhausted Mids side celebrated a hard victory.

The Mids' next face a home league match against Guildford and Godalming on Saturday, October 20.

October 23, 2001 17:00