Wanstead12

Bancroft8

(Eastern Counties League Division Two South)IT was Wanstead who overcame the poor conditions to grab a victory and first spot in this closely fought local derby between two top of the table sides.

With the wind behind them, Bancroft started with the slight territorial advantage, with much of the opening half hour being played in the middle of the pitch.

The visitors did eventually make their pressure tell when they pushed Wanstead back into their 22.

The ball was recycled and given to James King, who used Doug Raine and Ben Ryall as decoys as he slid through the Wanstead defence to score, but the resulting conversion was missed to leave it at 0-5 at half time.

After the break both sides continued the kicking pattern of the first half and with the wind behind them, this time it was Wanstead who created all the early pressure.

Fullback Paul Romano was the first to exploit Wanstead's advantage when he crashed through the Bancroft defence to touch down by the posts, giving Gareth Jones a simple conversion to give the Herons a 7-5 lead.

The tables were to turn again and some good Bancroft pressure forced a penalty in front of the posts, which Leck duly converted to regain the lead.

With the clock ticking down Wanstead earned a succession of scrums on the visitors' line and from one of them Paul Romano fed Gareth Jones on the blindside wing to score in the corner.

The missed conversion was the final act of a less than pulsating game but one which the Herons would have been pleased to have stolen from their local rivals.