Vigo A 25-7 Bexley A

AS an appetiser for the England v Scotland match later on television, it's hard to decide which was the better match as Vigo's A string got the better of their Bexley counterparts in a friendly on Saturday.

The result for Vigo's excellent second string was probably the deciding factor, but not by much.

Although both teams fielded a few first team players, the lack of competitive bite seen in league matches was missing and only a hat-trick by the ever-improving Aaron King lifted this match out of the gloom.

The visitors took the lead when Vigo attempted an over elaborate three quarter move. Poor alignment meant the ball was grassed.

Bexley's useful centre Joe Ferneyhough retrieved it and ran from his own 22m line to score between the sticks.

Veteran stand off Keith Rutter easily added the conversion.

Both packs seemed evenly matched and although Bexley enjoyed the initial advantage in the tight, Vigo's eight gradually achieved parity.

However, the Villagers' well drilled line outs and eager back row gave Vigo the edge on possession.

Indeed, only some solid tackling by scrum half Aaron Mulherne and the centre partnership of Ferneyhough and Bethawaite kept Vigo at bay until the end of the first half.

A well-worked line out move saw Vigo win the ball and for once get it quickly out to the threes, where Aaron King finished off to score his first.

The second half saw more cohesion in Vigo's play.

Pete Hayward kept up his outstanding work in both tight and loose and Dan Couchman began to make headway into Bexley's defence.

The home threes were still struggling to find fourth gear, but were doing enough to find holes in the visitors back line.

Further scores were inevitable and Dan Norton gave Vigo the lead with a penalty. Now with their noses in front, Vigo cranked up the pressure.

Norton, at stand off, nicely mixed up the game and his intelligent kicking gave Vigo the go-forward.

Although Bexley's hooker Mark Goulter was working hard, he found himself going backwards too often in the tight as Vigo tightened their hold on the match.

Vigo slowly marched down field and great work by James Weller gave King the opportunity to score his second, which Norton converted.

Bexley could, and really should, have scored immediately but a dropped pass with Vigo's line at their mercy prevented them from regaining a toehold in the match and Vigo promptly punished their visitors by scoring again.

Once more, it was full back King who scored, completing his hat-trick and underlining his burgeoning confidence.

Younger brother, Chris, then instigated the final score by wiping out a Bexley defender with a bone-crunching tackle shaking the ball loose.

Man of the match Dan Couchman toed the ball forward and plunged over the line for a well deserved last minute try.