Beckenham 22-30 Cobham

BECKENHAM welcomed Cobham to Balmoral Avenue for the second time in two weeks as the teams put their league challenges aside to contest round two of the EDF Intermediate Cup.

Both sides made a host of changes from their regular starting XV’s and Beckenham were hoping for a reversal of the result a couple of weeks ago when Cobham comprehensively claimed the league points.

Playing down the slope and against the breeze Cobham were straight out of the blocks, pressuring the home defence with backs and forwards linking well before poor Beckenham tackling allowed an almost unopposed 35 metre run in a for a converted try. Worse was to follow when a kick ahead caused confusion in the corner and Cobham pounced on the loose ball to secure an unconverted try to leave the visitors 12 to 0 up after barely 15 minutes.

Beckenham started to play some controlled rugby and used their forwards to drive the ball up the pitch. Good defence from the visitors kept them out until Pete Thorne picked up from the base, broke through the tackle and went in unopposed to score. With Eli Samuelu slotting over the conversion the home side were back in the game. Beckenham continued their forward dominance and a penalty for hands in the ruck was converted by Samuelu to leave the score at 10 to 12 at the break.

It was Cobham who started the second half stronger and it only took 10 minutes for the pressure to tell as forwards and backs linked well for another converted try. With both teams willing to play open rugby Beckenham spread the ball wide and Steve Benham gathered a kick ahead and went in for the try converted by fly half Samuelu, who was soon to depart with a bad ankle injury. The reshuffled Beckenham backs were under pressure as Cobham applied pressure, the defence held firm but were forced to conceded two kickable penalties as the visitors pulled away to lead by 25 to 15 going into the final quarter.

Once Beckenham had found their feet they attacked from deep, with replacement fly half Joe Narby trying every opportunity to test the defence. It was his chip ahead that found the flying Benham who broke the first tackle, stepped the full back and capped off a fine performance with his second try. The conversion by scrum half, Craig Whitehead, took the score to 22 to 25 with eight minutes to go and the home side could sniff victory. However, it was Cobham who had the last say as two handling errors got Cobham back near the Beckenham line and they took their opportunity when it came, the unconverted try left the final score at 22 to 30.

Beckenham will be pleased with the performance, but must realise that handling errors and conceding penalties in the red zone at crucial times were the difference between victory and defeat.

Other results Beckenham B1 13 – Old Elthamians ExA 17 Beckenham B2 38 – Streatham & Croydon 0