Tring 12 v 0 Beckenham

Powergen Intermediate Cup Quarter-Final

BECKENHAM slipped out of the Intermediate cup to a determined Tring side who stuck to a simple game plan, superbly executed.

Running play was difficult on the heavy pitch and Tring's heavier forwards were able to build momentum through a series of simple but effective driving mauls.

For long periods of the first half Beckenham, playing with the advantage of wind and slope, dominated possession but they could not make it pay.

It may have been because Beckenham had to change their team following a knee injury to centre and skipper Andy Glason.

Chris Hay moved from wing to centre and Michael Fealey, usually a stand-off, came on at wing.

After 20 minutes stand-off Pat Wright pushed an easy penalty from in front of the posts wide of the uprights.

Later in the half, after powerful forward play, Vai Mahutariki playing at scrum half for the cup-tied Ben Wood released his backs.

Brendan Moore broke a tackle, the ball reached winger Julian Rogers but the desperate Tring defence held him up right on the line.

From a maul Beckenham's second row Seb Rose was yellow carded and Tring elected to scrumage but Beckenham took the ball against the head and cleared for touch.

From another driving maul just prior to half-time they sucked in all of Beckenham's defence, which allowed the Tring stand-off to beat a despairing tackle for a try under the posts which was converted by the full-back.

Beckenham started the second half on attack but despite all their efforts they seldom got near the Tring line as superbly determined defence stopped their attacks.

Beckenham's best opportunities came from mazy runs from Steve Benham who played well at full-back and on one occasion, after a great break, Wright saw a gap and attempted to charge from a metre only to be stopped by two Tring forwards who arrived at the last second.

The only score came from Tring early in the half when, against the run of play, their full-back kicked ahead and won the race ahead to touch down in the left corner for an unconverted try.

Beckenham coach Simon Kift said: "Our back row was magnificent, we had no right to expect them to play so well given each was making their debut for the first team.

"Tom McMurdo, Matt Wilson and Ludo Ardouin deserve special mention."

On Saturday Beckenham face Old Midwhitgiftians from Croydon, who are currently 10th in the 12-team league table, at Balmoral Avenue. Kick off is 2.15pm.