Beckenham travelled to Aylesford looking for their first away league win since December last year and headed for home with mission accomplished as they ran out comfortable winners by 13 to 30.

The home side were quick of the blocks and dominated the close exchanges giving their fly half time and space to use his very effective right boot to move them up the pitch. The pressure told and Beckenham conceded a penalty, which was duly slotted over to give Aylesford the lead.

From the kick off Beckenham took a stranglehold of the game and looked to be in control of proceedings as they pinned the opposition back in their own half. The four Paul’s in the pack, Smith, Roumph, Gooding and Currie were prominent and Aylesford’s only respite coming from some fine long clearance kicks. After a big hit by Peter Thorne, Luke Aylward scooped up the loose ball, stepped outside one man, inside another and sauntered in under the posts leaving Jack Forrest the simplest of conversions to set the visitors on their way.

Full back James Perry was starting to return some of the clearance kicks with interest and he linked well with Alex Jones to set up good field position. The ball somehow found its way to Forrest who cantered in near the corner from 25 metres for an unconverted try and the half time lead for Beckenham by 3 to 12.

Aylesford again started strongly and added a penalty to reduce the deficit to six but Beckenham had too much pace and power and took charge of proceedings. After good work by skipper Andy Glason, the ball was fed to Pete Isaac who outstripped to covering defence to run in a long range try, Forrest slotting the conversion. Five minutes later, Forrest added another fine penalty to take the lead to 6 to 22.

Now playing their best rugby of the game Beckenham had their forwards and backs combining well, Julian Rogers was linking superbly with his pack, feeding Smith, Leek and the lively Christian Scade as they charged up the pitch. Laurence Headlam made ground on the left and Rodgers fed Currie who was stopped just short after a typical barging run. It was not long before the pressure told and the ball was spread wide through several pairs of hands before Gareth Howell fed Perry for the simplest of runs ins and the try of the game.

Leading 6 to 27 and seemingly in control, Beckenham looked certain to score again but some miscommunication in midfield gifted the opposition the ball and they quickly counter attacked and linked superbly to score a fine converted try. With the score at 13 to 27 the home side were now within two scores but the visitors remained in control and substitute hooker, Eddie Reading and back row George Daniels, linked beautifully in the lineout to keep the team moving forward. Under pressure, the home side were conceding penalties giving Forrest two long range opportunities, one hitting the post and the other sailing through the middle to secure the game and leave the final score at 13 to 30.