Beckenham must win to stay up (From News Shopper)

Beckenham must win to stay up

9:46am Tuesday 6th March 2007 in Sport

Tunbridge Wells 24 v 10 Beckenham

Rugby Union London League Two South

BECKENHAM travelled away to face a confident but third-from-bottom Tunbridge Wells side.

Wells' confidence stemmed from their huge victory over fellow strugglers London Irish the previous week and within moments of the kick-off their confidence showed.

They scored their first points when centre Mav Anderson made a big break from just inside the Beckenham half and several missed tackles later he dotted down beneath the posts to make the conversion a formality for fullback Matt Murtagh.

Beckenham, who were playing up the slope but with the wind, took play in the Wells 22.

Awarded a penalty they kicked for touch and the first catch and drive was stopped illegally as the resulting maul was collapsed.

The repeat catch and drive was stopped legally this time but the ball was moved quickly from right to left.

Fullback and try scoring machine Neil Dipple came into the line at pace and scored a try in the corner.

Sam Howard lined up the kick confidently and struck the ball well but it ball hit the post and stayed out.

Tunbridge Wells took play to Beckenham and the next score came from winger Zac Alexander - play was taken wide on the right and Beckenham defended this attack well but a series of hard flat passes found the little winger in space with a sight of the line.

He still had work to do but he demonstrated he had real pace scoring the try 5m in from the corner post.

Murtagh's conversion was excellent for a 14-5 lead.

Tunbridge Wells were forced into desperate defence but managed to get the ball back to Murtagh in the 22.

It looked like he would clear easily but winger Steve Benham charged down the kick and then took advantage to touch down over the line for an unconverted try.

It wasn't long before Wells scored their third and Anderson's second.

First the Wells forwards worked hard at a Beckenham scrum on half way and took the ball against the head.

The ball was moved quickly to the backs and Anderson ran straight breaking the first tackle to make the converted score look easy.

Beckenham made the final attack of the half and were awarded a penalty in the Wells 22.

They kicked for touch but failed to turn a good catch into a drive.

When play broke down Wells were able to clear and the half time whistle sounded with the score at 21-10.

The second half saw Beckenham playing down the slope but against the wind which had moved around since the game started.

Early in the half Beckenham replaced hooker Eddie Redding with Jarrad Tipene.

With the advantage of the slope Beckenham made regular inroads into Wells territory but more than once the game broke down as runners became isolated and the ball was lost.

On each occasion the Wells kickers, who knew their ground and kicked well all daym hammered the ball back into Beckenham's 22.

From one Wells attack and after a long advantage, play was taken back for an offside penalty which Murtagh scored with ease.

His next kick was a spectacular effort from just inside the Beckenham half.

He struck it beautifully but it hit the cross bar and was cleared to touch.

The story of the second half for Beckenham was one of frustration.

They had their fair share of possession but could not find the gaps or space to take advantage of this possession.

Time and time again the Beckenham runners were caught by the solid midfield defence and either ball was turned over or the attacked was slowed down to allow the Wells defence to re-group.

In an attempt to change things, Ben Wood was replaced at scrum half by Dipple with John Phillips coming on at centre and Andy Glason going to fullback.

Although Dipple made some good breaks it was clear it was not to be Beckenham's day as his support players were slow in getting to him or was it just the Wells defenders, with their blindside Chris Clemmow prominent, were a little faster sensing this was a game they had to win to stand any chance of staying up?

There was to be no more scoring in the second half.

Other results went Wells' way on Saturday when near neighbours Sevenoaks beat Andover.

This means Wells and Andover swap places in the league and find themselves fourth from bottom one place above the drop zone. With three sides, Andover, Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham all on seven wins with only point's difference separating them it may well go down to the last game of the season to decide who joins London Irish and Lewes in the lower league next season.

Sam Howard said: "Fair play to them, they played well and they seemed to want it more.

"We didn't show up and that's the first time that has happened since the new-year.

"Everyone has a bad day at the office we've just had ours.

"But the future is in our hands, we have two home games before we travel to Sutton for the last game of the season.

"We must take maximum points from our home games to be sure of staying up."

Beceknham's next game is this weekend when they defend the Kent Plate against Charlton Park.

Kick off is at noon to allow spectaors to enjoy the Six Nations which starts on 1.30pm the same afternoon.