Beckenham and Thanet shared the spoils in a game that lacked any real continuity as both sides looked extremely rusty following a four week break from competitive rugby.

Playing with the elements the visitors dominated the first half, using their bigger forwards they played the conditions perfectly, starving the home side of any decent possession and were rewarded with two penalties and a converted try to take a 13 to 0 lead.

Beckenham had a few forays into the opposition territory and spurned a few kickable penalties to go for the try, but they got little change out of a resolute Thanet defence and went in scoreless at the break.

The second half was a complete reverse of the first. The hosts dominated both territory and possession and quickly reduced the deficit with two well taken Ted Mahutariki penalties. However, Thanet were giving nothing away in defence until Luke Aylward intercepted just inside the visitors half and raced though to score under the posts giving Mahutariki the simple chance to level the scores.

This seemed to get the home side going and when Joe Narbey and Aylward disrupted a Thanet scrum in their own ‘22’ the ball was recycled quickly and went through several pairs of hands before Alex Jones released Steve Benham who raced through to score in the corner.

Mahutariki added a fine touchline conversion to give the hosts the lead by 20 to 13 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Beckenham had their tails up and easily saw off a couple of Thanet forays into their half before disaster struck with about 10 minutes to go. The home side won possession following a Thanet lineout just inside their own half and quickly spread the ball wide. But this time it was Thanet’s turn to intercept and they raced through to score under the posts. The converted try levelling the scores.

Beckenham had a series of pick and drives just outside the Thanet ‘22’ but got no change out of an unyielding defence and eventually coughed up possession to signal the end of the game.

A draw was probably a fair result in a game that neither side deserved to win or lose!