By Alec Lauder

Bromley RFC will face West Leeds at Twickenham on May 3 in the final of the RFU Senior Vase after a thrilling 22-16 semi-final success over Withycombe on Saturday.

The Devon visitors took a 15th minute lead after Mike Richards’ try was converted by Glenn Channing.

But the hosts were quickly back in it courtesy of Patrick Moore’s penalty and then got their noses in front as James Powell was released and outpaced everyone to score a spectacular try in the corner.

Up stepped Moore to add the extras but the advantage proved short lived, Channing slotting over two penalties to ensure Withycombe held a 13-10 interval lead.

Channing pulled them further clear with another penalty after the restart but Powell again showed great pace and strength to score in the corner.

The angle was too much for Moore, although Bromley now piled on the pressure.

Withycombe’s Jon Axon received a yellow card for playing the ball in a ruck and with a man advantage, a Bromley try seemed inevitable. 

It was Tom Davey who delivered the coup de grace from a well-executed rolling maul and Moore converted to make it 22-16.

With 10 minutes remaining, Bromley took a scrum against the head deep in Withycombe territory and looked to be winding down the clock comfortably. 

However, the visitors stole the ball from the base of a scrum and John Parkin charged down the field into Bromley territory. 

What followed was probably the most extraordinary passage of play ever seen at Barnet Wood Road. 

Withycombe had a series of penalties and opted for the scrum every time, needing a converted try to win the game. 

Bromley kept being penalised and Ben Smith saw a yellow card for overstepping the mark. 

The Withycombe No 8 crossed the line twice and their flanker once, but every time the officials adjudged no try. 

On one occasion the referee appeared to award the try, but following consultation with his two touch judges it was concluded that he had inadvertently obstructed a Bromley defender. 

While the hosts were clearly transgressing at the set pieces, and it is debatable whether a penalty try might have been awarded, their defence of the line was quite outstanding and highly disciplined. 

Some of the travelling supporters were incensed with the decisions not to award a try or a penalty try, but in fairness to the referee he was always well placed to make the crucial decisions, even though they ended in heartache for the visitors.

Bromley survived the late surge and now have almost a month to prepare for their big Twickenham trip, the second time the club has graced the hallowed turf in 13 years.