Barnet Saracens

Elizabethans 24

Harpenden 6

London League

Division 3 (North-West)

"Thou shall not pass" was the motto for Barnet Saracens Elizabethans at home on Saturday as they restricted a poor Harpenden side to little real possession and, in turn, scored four tries without having their line crossed.

This victory keeps them on the heels of the Division Three leaders.

Both sides were guilty of mistakes but Peter Moulton punished Harpenden for theirs, scoring three tries.

Barnet's pack were much better in the loose and tight play, with Harpenden forced to adopt spoiling tactics, killing possession on every occasion.

That, together with offences in the front row which caused the scrums to collapse meant there was never any flow in the match.

Barnet should have been out of sight by half-time.

Instead they were only 12-0 up, with one try to Moulton.

For the second successive match, Barnet lost a vital player in midfield, when Richard Perkins limped off with a groin injury in the second half.

Earlier, he had released the back line and Stuart Borst made an easy break to score a try, with Glenister converting.

Though Harpenden replied with two penalties, they were never in with a chance as Barnet's tackling was firm.

Two more tries from Moulton and a Glenister conversion ensured a strong confidence-boosting win for the Barnet team.

Finchley 21 Ealing 40

London League

Division 3 (North-West)

Finchley failed to recover from a poor start and were beaten by a well-drilled Ealing side, who led 16-3 at half-time.

Finchley's points came from three penalties by James Webb; a converted penalty try, and a 70m run for a top try in the corner by Nash Cohen. On Sunday, Finchley are home to Harlequin Amateurs in the Middlesex Cup.

November 21, 2001 18:27