Beckenham produced their best display for some considerable time with a five try demolition of second in the league Dover thus ending their home league campaign in some style.

Although having lost the three previous league encounters to the south coast club, Beckenham went into this game in a confident mood on the back of an unbeaten home record in 2010 but the display surprised even the most optimistic among the large home crowd. The visitors were playing with the slope and the elements and both sides showed their intent to play an expansive game as they tried to run the ball from deep.

One such Beckenham move was snuffed out as they knocked on in the tackle just inside their opponents half. From the scrum Dover picked from the base and broke blind and just as it seemed that they created the extra man, Ted Mahutariki intercepted and ran in to dot down in the corner. He then struck the touchline conversion beautifully into the wind to give the home side a 7 to 0 lead.

As Dover attacked from the kick-off, the ever busy Luke Aylward intercepted and went fifty metres before being caught but a penalty negated any advantage. From the resulting possession, Justin Marx made a fine break and was illegally stopped near the host’s line. Ben Murray took a quick tap and went in unopposed to leave Blair Charge the simplest of conversions to level the scores.

Dover were now dominating and worked their way back into to Beckenham half. County fly-half Martyn Beaumont, made a beautiful break before being hauled down just short of the line by Mark Barber who harshly received a yellow card for his efforts. Charge duly slotted over the three pointer to give the visitors the lead.

Another Charge penalty gave Dover a six point advantage but this was their last score of the game as the home side took control of proceedings for the remainder of the afternoon. A Ted Mahutariki long range penalty hit the post and when Beckenham recovered possession deep in the Dover half they showed excellent ball retention through a number of pick and drives and Sam Forrest was in possession when they finally crossed the try line. The unconverted score leaving just one point in it at the break with Dover ahead by 12 to 13.

Beckenham continued where they left off and five minutes into the second half, full back James Perry made a fine break before the forwards took over again and repeated their earlier drive as they went through the phases and Forrest was on hand again to score the try with Ted Mahutariki duly added the extras.

The home side saved the best to last with two excellent team tries. Firstly Alex Jones chased a long Pat Wright kick and put in an excellent tackle. From the breakdown Dover were forced to kick long and Perry returned with interest and set up a lineout on the ‘22’. Beckenham stole possession at the line out and Vai Mahutariki quickly released Wright who ghosted through the gap and slipped an inside ball to Aylward who dotted down for his seventh try of the season. Ted Mahutariki added the conversion.

Dover continued their attacking intent from the kick-off and showed some glimpses of their quality but when they got turned over it gave Beckenham the chance to score the try of the season as forwards and backs combined to run the ball from deep in their own half and cut their opponents to shreds. Fittingly it was left for Brendon Hamilton to cap off a fine display to score the unconverted try and kill off any chance of a Dover revival.

The home side saw out the game comfortably, Ted Mahutariki struck the post for the fourth time in the game with a long range penalty before adding a late three pointer to leave the final score at 34 to 13 for the hosts.

Coach Dan Leek was delighted with the performance and added that if he can get the boys to play like this away from home we will be real title contenders next season.