CAERPHILLY RFC UNDER 14S 25 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC UNDER 14S 12 POINTS

Date :- 27th November 2011

Venue:- Caerphilly

CAERPHILLY RFC UNDER 14S 25 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC UNDER 14S 12 POINTS

After their early season victory against the host side Beaufort Juniors had the table turned on them in this return encounter being outscored 5 tries to 2 . Rhys Bayliss and Aaron Boulter both got on the score sheet notching up a try apiece while Morgan Freeland kicked the extra points. Beaufort hope to get back to their winning ways next week when they head off to Risca

BARRIE CASWELL

BEAUFORT RFC 19 POINTS ROGERSTONE RFC 8 POINTS

Date:- 26th november 2011

Venue:- Beaufort

Fixture:- WRU Division 6 East

BEAUFORT RFC 19 POINTS ROGERSTONE RFC 8 POINTS

Beaufort completed the first half of their season with a fine win to elevate them into second spot in division six east.

The alacrity of the opening ten minutes was striking and set the pattern for an enthralling match.. The passion and intensity of the home side attack and determination in defence never waived in a performance which was one of their best of the season Within minutes they had Rogerstone in trouble in the set piece . The visitors were a much bigger unit but they struggled to contain the scrummage that produced the opening for the first try. Scrum half Dan Croft had time to pick a spot for a well measured kick behind the visitors defence and Lewis Hodson's hoof of the unchecked ball to the line gave the fullback a clear run in for the first score.

Rogerstone hit back immediately after the restart . Beaufort were pinged for being offside and Rogerstone took the points on offer. This brought composure to the side that had yet to take advantage of their heavier presence. They were helped by a catalogue of unforced handling errors by the host side which they put to good advantage to get them to the try line. A desperate defence was eventually breached and the visitors stole the lead 8 points to 5.

But the lead did not sit easy with them There were already signs that Beaufort's lighter pack with their superior scrummaging skills were having the better of the exchanges. It was the key to the eventual win.and on the half hour they had Rogerstone entrenched on their own line . Champing at the base of the scrum was twenty year old Croft displaying a maturity beyond his years . He pounced at the tail of a driving scrum getting Beaufort's second try under the posts . Hodson's conversion was a simple one and it captured the s lead 12 points to 8 at the break.

With a slight wind advantage Rogerstone should have done better in the second half. They kicked well but failed to turn it to advantage while a buoyed up Beaufort took every opportunity to exploit their dominance in the set piece. It was this that finally settled the contest. Towards the end of the final quarter the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try as Rogerstone collapsed a flagging scrum It was enough to put the game beyond their reach.

It was a supreme effort from the home side pack with lock Craig Bennett giving his best performance of the season while the team's youngest player Dan Croft was deservedly named man of the match.

BEAUFORT JUNIORS ( UNDER 14S) RFC 44 POINTS CAERLEON JUNIORS 20 POINTS

Date : 20th November 2011

Venue : Beaufort

BEAUFORT JUNIORS ( UNDER 14S) RFC 44 POINTS CAERLEON JUNIORS 20 POINTS

It was another comfortable win for Beaufort Juniors notching up 8 tries against 4 conceded, They went through the phases in text book fashion and with good unselfish off loads it brought them the rewards. Caerleon never gave up but they were up against a home unit that controlled the match from the kick off. On half way Beaufort were well on their way with a 17 points to 5 lead from 3 tries and a conversion to one try . Caerleon had a better second half but could not outscore the host team who grabbed a further 5 . Aaron Boulter improved his season's tally with a brace as did man of the match Joel Harries with another two and a try apiece for Ryan Hale, Chris Follis , Ieaun Jones and captain Finlay Nash, getting his first of the season . Ryan Hale kicked the extra points for a good all round performance

WHITEHEADS RFC 7 - BEAUFORT RFC 24 POINTS

Date:-19th November 2011

Venue:- Newport

Fixture:- WRU Division 6 East

WHITEHEADS RFC 7 - BEAUFORT RFC 24 POINTS

This was a scrappy encounter which Beaufort managed to turn into a bonus point win from four tries to one conceded. For them the primary agents of agony were the horrors and policing at the breakdown which they were not happy about but most of all it was at the lineout that Beaufort failed most. The gremlins returned again to haunt and deny them a solid platform to launch their attacks that were only sporadic in a less than inspiring first half. Whiteheads had a decent pack of forwards that outweighed Beaufort. They were occasionally dynamic but discipline was an issue for both teams and Whiteheads were punished most for their indiscretions. There was steady stream of players sent to the side lines throughout the contest which did little to inject some zest into the performances from both sides

The first points came after fifteen minutes when some honest endeavour fom the home side bigger pack helped by the heavy conditions kept Beaufort pinned down . The visitors had a clearance kick charge down and Whiteheads grabbed a corner try which was converted from the touchline. Beaufort's response was immediate . They managed to string a series of passes together with precision and at pace . Centre Kyle Purnell's final pass put his wing Lee Roper on a touchline run which he finished off superbly in the corner. Lewis Hodson narrowly missed the conversion and Beaufort went into the break 7 points to 5 in arrears

In the third quarter Beaufort at last put some energy and snap into their attack. Their back row of Justin Bennett, Jason Taylor and No 8 Andrew Morgan as the chief ball carriers were making deep incisions into the Whitehead's heartland. It was Morgan who was justly awarded a try for his efforts . Hodson kicked the extra points and Beaufort were now in the lead. Their third try came after a comedy of errors following a Whitehead lineout. The referee waved play on leaving the Whitehead pack in a fog of bewilderment as fullback Matthew Burrows sped away down the right flank . A perfectly judged pass to his left gave Hodson a clear run to the posts and he converted his own try to stretch the lead to 19 points to 5. The game was now slipping away from the host team and with ten minutes of game time left was settled beyond all doubt when hooker Aaron Thompson speed in the loose was demonstrated for him to latch on to a pass to score the bonus point try

BEAUFORT JUNIORS ( UNDER 14S) RFC 66 POINTS BEDWAS JUNIORS 5 POINTS

Date:- 13th November 2011

Venue :- Beaufort

BEAUFORT JUNIORS ( UNDER 14S) RFC 66 POINTS BEDWAS JUNIORS 5 POINTS

It was a ten try bonaza for Beaufort Juniors against a game Bedwas side that were playing only their second game of the season. Ryan Hale scored his first hat trick of the season , Ryan Davies and new comer Josh Hodson notched up two apiece with Morgan Woodland, Tom Williams and Daffyd Watkins getting one each. Woodland had an excellent game with the boot slotting over six conversions and Ryan Hale a further two . Beaufort's star man on the day was Ciaran Gooding who has made huge strides forward this year to justly deserve the accolade .

BEAUFORT RFC 41 POINTS HARTRIDGE RFC 12 POINTS

Date:- 12th November 2011

Venue:- Beaufort

Fixture:- WRU Division 6 East

BEAUFORT RFC 41 POINTS HARTRIDGE RFC 12 POINTS

Beaufort can be well pleased with this bonus point win in which they were made to work harder than the score line reflects. It was a contest between two teams of contrasting styles.Hartridge had the structure for a pick up and drive game in which they excelled testing the Beaufort defence to the full but they were totally lacking in any vibrancy behind . The visitors were undone by a series of gaffs and handling blunders which to do so was to court disaster with the host side that had enough, edge steel and pace to inflict serious damage.

Lewis Hodson got Beaufort off to a good start with a penalty .This was quickly followed by the first try. A touchline kick was not checked by the visitors that bounced back into the waiting arms of wing Kyle Purnell who stood up in the tackle long enough for his fullback Matthew Burrows to take a pass and he raced through a yawning gap to make the touchdown for Hodson to convert. It was a neat chip by Darrel Roper behind the defence that led to the second . His brother Lee made the most of the loose ball to score in the corner. Hodson's majestic kick from the touchline improved the score to 17 points without reply. On the half hour they had scored again when Hartridge lost the ball in contact and Hodson's speed carried him through a hapless defence to cross the try line leaving him a simple conversion

Hartridge had already served notice of their forward power in a series of passionate driving mauls which Beaufort only just managed to quell But in the last ten minutes of an all action first half they went through the phases retaining the ball in a relentless series of drives to keep Beaufort pinned down on their line . The defence finally cracked and the visitors earned themselves a deserved try to end the half 24 points to 5 in arrears

Beaufort's bonus point try was not long coming after the restart. Skillful handling mixed with bags of pace and electricity in the attack got their opponents in trouble again . On this occasion it was Purnell who was the benificary of a fine passage of play for the fourth try. However, Hartridge struck back again with another telling driving maul that Beaufort failed to stop. A touchline conversion narrowed the gap with still plenty of game time left. But just before the end of the third quarter a lightening Beaufort attack from half way created the overlap and centre Geraint Phillips crashed over for a fifth touchdown to extend the lead to 34 points to 12

The last try came with just 10 minutes of playing time to stop any hope of a Hartridge revival With the Beaufort's backs having scoredall the points it was fitting that the hard work of the forwards should get some recognition and it was No 8 Andrew Morgan who capped a fine display to get Beaufort's sixth which Hodson slotted over. Hartridge did finish strongly as Beaufort were pinged continuously and had a player sin binned. But they failed to make any telling advantage to get a consolation score.

Next week Beaufort travel to Whiteheads

Beaufort Seniors Juniors Match Report 22nd October 2011

Date:- 22nd October 2011

Venue:- Beaufort

Fixture:- WRU Division 6 East

BEAUFORT RFC 13 POINTS CAERLEON RFC 23 POINTS

Beaufort slumped to their second successive defeat and the first at home this season against high fliers Caerleon.

It was a lively start from the host team to put pressure on the visitors but unfortunately they could not make the advantage tell and missed an easy penalty, Caerleon looked a competent outfit with a strong scrummage and a stubborn defence and , in contrast to Beaufort, took their chances. Although Beaufort held the ascend ency in a pulsating first quarter a rare incursion by Caerleon into Beaufort's 22 brought the first touchdown A nudge in the scrummage and enough forward drive to break from the base got Caerleaon a touchdown under the posts . It was a simple conversion to give them a 7 point lead and served notice to Beaufort this was a team on top of their game . They struck back with a penalty but found the Caerleon defence difficult to break down in spite of a series of powerful drives. Just before the half hour flanker Jason Taylor made a thunderous run up the middle of the park to break clear. At last the impetus was there for his threequarters to finish off the move and centre Mike Vaughan did it in fine style . A superb touchline conversion by Lewis Hodson in tricky conditions gave Beaufort the lead . Both teams then exchanged penalties before the half time break with Beaufort just in front 13 points to 10.

After the break there was expectation in the Beaufort camp that with a wind advantage they would exert enough pressure to open up the cracks in the Caerleon cover defence. However, the alacrity of their first half play sagged badly . Nothing like the first half momentum was attained again .The penalty count weighed heavy against them and to lose possession to a quality team like Caerleon was to court disaster. Inevitably a gallant defence was just not good enough and with little possession for their opponents to kick themselves out of trouble Caerleon sensed with patience they would find the opening. At the at the end of the third quarter they did it in ruthless fashion to recapture the lead with a try . Before the end they struck again as desperate measures by the home side led to mistakes and they were punished accordingly to put the result beyond doubt.

Next week Beaufort travel to St Josephs Newport.

BARRIE CASWELL

PRESS OFFICER.

BEAUFORT UNDER 14S 57 POINTS CROESYCEILIOG UNDER 14S 5 POINTS

Another cracking performance from Beaufort Juniors earned them 9 tries to just one conceded in a game that they never lost control of.They led 19 points to 5 at the break after which the flood gates opened. Two hat tricks were scored one by centre Ieaun Jones who impressed throughout the game , the other was by prop Aaron Boulter with Morgan Woodland, Rhys Bayliss and man of the match Joel Harries getting one apiece. In windy conditions Morgan Woodland fired over 6 conversions.

YSTRAD RHONDDA UNDER 14S RFC 25 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC UNDER 14S 38

This was a superb contest between two evenly matched sides and a much better performance from Beaufort from recent weeks. But it was another poor start by them . When they did find their rhythm they produced some good rugby to craft out six good tries against 3 conceded. Leading 17 points to 10 at the break they managed to keep the host side at bay and maintained a comfortable margin on the score board for the rest of the encounter . Rhys Bayliss notched up another hat trick, his second of the season, supported on the scoresheet by Aaron Boulter, Callum Poole and Jack Sewell who grabbed one apiece. Boulter also slotted over 1 conversion and Morgan Woodland kicked three. Jack Sewell was commended by both coaches for his excellent support work. There are also a few new faces at he club but the coaches are still looking to strengthen it further. Training is 5.30pm on Wednesdays at Carmeltown recreational ground

TREFIL RFC 22 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 15 POINTS

TREFIL RFC 22 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 15 POINTS

TREFIL RFC 22 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 15 POINTS

Beaufort's winning streak came to an abrupt end against local rivals Trefil who outscored the visitors 3 tries to 2 in a less than inspiring league contest. It was a serious case of Beaufort under performing particularly in the first half when they had the advantage of the Trefil slope. They suffered a crisis in their line out allowing Trefil to plunder them with consummate ease while a catalogue of handling errors kept them under constant pressure . Both sides missed kickable penalties but towards the end of the first quarter Martin Edwards fired one over to give the home side the lead. On the half hour they scored the first try . Beaufort lost ball in contact and from loose play Trefil's Hartley thundered in for a try seemingly out of nothing . Lewis Hodson kicked a penalty to narrow the gap but almost immediately from the kick off poor communication in the Beaufort defence failed to secure the high ball which bounced conveniently into the arms of Kevin Lewis . Beaufort could only watch in bewilderment as he galloped in for a simple touch down. Edwards slotted over the conversion for a a deserved half time lead of 15 point to 3

It didn't get any better for Beaufort after the break as they struggled to get some shape into their game to chase down the lead When the next score came it was from Trefi's Christian Jones who was the beneficiary of some good work from his forwards enabling him to race in for his side's third try. With Edwards kicking the extra points it looked all over for a hapless Beaufort. But then Beaufort gave a fleeting glimpse of redemption and managed to bring some valuable zest into their attack . Wing Kyle Purnell touch line rumble was finshed off by his scrumhalf John Davies and with ten minutes of game time left Hodson against the run of play intercepted a pass to race the whole length of the field to touch down under the posts.for a simple conversion It was the last score of the encounter which give Beaufort an improbable losing bonus point. Next week Beaufort host Caerleon which promises to be another difficult encounter. While Trefil head off to Blaenavon Forgeside.

BEAUFORT UNDER FOURTEENS RFC 50 POINTS BLACKWOOD UNDER FOURTEEN 3

There was no game this week which was SWALEC Bowl competition weekend. Beaufort had a bye and play their next league match away to Trefil next weekend.

Weekly draw numbers were 2; 7; 19; 17

BEAUFORT UNDER FOURTEENS RFC 50 POINTS BLACKWOOD UNDER FOURTEEN 3

Beaufort Juniors got themselves back to winning ways with a comfortable win against their Blackwood rivals They were too strong for the visitors in the set pieces and by half time had notched up an unassailable lead of 39 points with their opponents being restricted to just one penalty , their only score of the contest.However, the host side can still improve their game in the tackle area and need to off load load to support players more rather than retain the ball too long to squander chances that came thier way in abundance, But they did score 8 tries in all with centre Ieaun Jones getting a personal tally of five, standoff Rhys Bayliss, wing Tom Williams and lock Callum Poole getting one apiece. The extra points were added by Rhys Bayliss who kicked one conversion and Morgan Woodland 4 . Beaufort's prop Connor Davies gave a star studded performance and led the side by example to be man of the match

BEAUFORT RFC 28 P0INTS vs NEW PANTEG RFC 17 POINTS

Date:- 1st October 2011
Venue:- Beaufort
Fixture:_ WRU League Division ^ East


BEAUFORT RFC 28 P0INTS NEW PANTEG RFC 17 POINTS

This was the least impressive performance from Beaufort in five league outings. The natural pace and rhythm which the home side had previously shown was not on parade and they were below their creative best. Still they managed to cobble together four tries to gain a fifth consecutive bonus point win to put them on top of the table.

New Panteg were a much better outfit than their recent results implied which may have contributed to how Beaufort approached the encounter .They had an impressive back division and throughout maintained a stubborn defence. Beaufort found themselves in arrears within minutes of the kickoff when from a scrummage New Panteg broke clear and a hapless Beaufort defence failed to make the tackles to stop a try under the posts.which was improved by a simple conversion, Ten minutes of real anxiety followed as Beaufort tried to regain their composure .They survived without further damage although the visitors did have their chances to improve the score with a kickable penalty.
Beaufort's Lewis Hodson and Justin Bennett both came close to scoring but it was not until the second quarter that the line was finally breached when Bennett rumbled over from a tapped penalty . Before half time they had triumphed again with a clean break from centre Geraint Phillips and a well timed pass from prop Matthew Harding put centre MikeVaughan clear for a second touchdown, From two conversions Hodson took Beaufort's into a 14 point to 7 lead

With just five minutes of the second half played New Panteg get on level terms again with what was arguably the best try of the encounter. A loose kick was run from a deep position by a lively three quarter line which Beaufort failed to to defend in numbers . It resulted in a well worked try under the posts for an easy conversion. A stunned Beaufort then struggled to raise the tempo of their game. They did not help matters by some indifferent play in the loose while the gremlines appeared to have returned to haunt them again at he lineout where they failed to hold on to their own ball.. But in the third quarter they got good field position and conjured up at third try with Kyle Purnell latching on to the final pass . Hodson secured the conversion to put some daylight between the scores But when an act of indiscipline gifted New Panteg a penalty it was game on again as the margin narrowed to 4 points. Luck favoured the home side as the game drifted into the final quarter . A loose ball from a scrum on halfway should have given the visitors the chance to break clear up field. They failed to take advantage allowing Paul Francis to retrive the situation . He set off on a superb 45 metre touchline run to weave his way through the last remnants of a flat footed defence for a try under the post which Hodson converted. It was enough to settle the contest

The weekly prize numbers were 3:: 12; 22; 23 . There were no winners

NEWPORT HSOB RFC ( UNDER 14S) 41POINTS BEAUFORT RFC (UNDER 14S) 27

Despite losing this match it was a decent performance from Beaufort who were up against a much bigger pack. But they coped well despite having traveling without any replacements and more than held their own particularly at scrummaging But the home side fielded a superb attacking threequarter unit which in the end was Beaufort's undoing.. It was a close call at half time with them trailing just 15 points to 12 . They did make 5 touch downs with Rhys Bayliss notching up his first hatrick of the season and was Beaufort's star performer on the day. Jack Jewell and Owen Preece got one apiece and Ryan Hale slotted over one conversion. Beaufort are still looking to strenghten their squad particularly in the three quarters. Anyone interested should present themselves on Wednesdays 5. 30 pm at the training ground Beaufort or contact either coaches Stewart Nash ( Mobile 0785442221) Robert Hale ( 07974996453)

BARRIE CASWELL
PRESS OFFICER

The Annoying Twats XV vs Fatties XV

It was a night of an onward march by The Annoying Twats and a weary farewell from The Fatties. On the fourth day after leaking 12 tries to The Thinnies, they shipped another dozen. The only firsts for the lowliest of the 20 teams here in Idiot World was that The Fatties became the first to finish their schedule and first to be heading for home.

They were given two going-away presents. James Corden, the back-row forward, was named man of the match. He looked a little sheepish as the announcement was made, although he had barged his heart out. Not so shy was Dawn French, who finished off a sweeping move involving just the one other player, her mucker from the second row, Russel Grant, who was given a sweet breakaway pass by Stuart Barnes. If Mr T could do it against the Shithouses, then why not The Annoying Twats's fly- half on the night he became his Group’s most-capped player, with 101 of them?

The Fatties try hardly spoke of a mighty comeback launched. The Annoying Twats had the game all wrapped up in 18 minutes, racing to a 22-0 lead. They then entered a quarter when the rust of age began to tell. They had stacked the ranks with a lot of their old-guard lame: Gillian McKeith herself, Deidre Barlow, Stuart Barnes and Noel Edmonds , victims all to the curse of the wounded calf. Gillian McKeith played with composure throughout, a reassuring performance from the old captain who will yet have a big part to play in the absence of John Inverdale.

The others took their time to find their sea legs and it was just as well they were involved in a game as easy as this. For a team in the supposed pool of death, The Annoying Twats could afford to be pretty untidy in their third game and allow some of their senior players to potter along for a while like senior citizens.

The scrum was not entirely solid, passes went astray and the ball was surrendered at the breakdown. It didn't matter, although Jeremy Kyle might not have been quite so tolerant with his half-time analysis. They all pulled through this scratchy session and all contributed to the fun of the second half.

As it unfolded, The Annoying Twats players young and old settled into a rhythm that was too fast for their opponents. It told on The Fatties on all fronts. At full strength they were increasingly bent out of shape. Reduced to 14, they suffered even more. The Penguin was binned for one of those scrummage thingummies and Michelle McManus went off injured in a golf buggy. All eyes turned to Kerry Katona at this moment, but he studiously kept his distance.

Having used up their quota of replacements, The Fatties finished the game with 14, of whom 13 were out on their feet. Sherman Klump, of course, kept going to the very end.

If one serious point can be made about this Annoying Twats performance is that the team that opened in such sparkling style against The Thinnies are driven by their young players, not their old guard. Deidre Barlow rolled back the years with a genuine sprint from 30 metres but more influential on the The Annoying Twats side were H from Steps in the centre, Lenny Henry, Jordan, Justin Bieber and The Bloke from Safestyle Windows Advert. Youth has taken over, direct and fearless. Jon from Jedward came on and showed that he has the fastest pass from a scrum-half in the squad.

Any hands put up tended to be by this classroom generation, keen to take charge. The Annoying Twats have scored three tries or more only three times in the 43 games of Jeremy Kyles tenure as coach. Of the 73 tries they have scored before this game, Keith Chegwin has scored more than a quarter. Others began to chase the record try-scorer here, with Lenny Henry bagging a hat-trick and Justin Bieber a brace.

Jeremy Kyles record has not been brilliant for more than a year but his investment in a brand new bunch – his core of very junior senior players, as it were – seems to be paying off. Of course, the fun was fleeting; they now plunge back into the deep end of their pool. Supervillans are next, with The Annoying Twats in no mood to say farewell to the Idiots Cup just yet.

The Annoying Twats Noel Edmonds ; Keith Chegwin , Timmy Mallet, H from Steps, Lenny Henry (Justin Bieber, 54); Adam Sandler (Ian Beale, 62), Stuart Barnes (Les Dennis, 57); Deidre Barlow (Derek Acorah, 61), Lembit Opik (Stacey Sullivan , 61), Jon from Jedward, Edward from Jedward, Gok Wan, Gillian McKeith, Jordan (capt; Kerry Katona, 48), Bloke from Safestyle Windows Advert (Justin Timberlake, 56).

Tries H from Steps 3, Lenny Henry, Bloke from Safestyle Windows Advert, Deidre Barlow, Justin Bieber 2, Timmy Mallet, Noel Edmonds , Les Dennis, Gok Wan. Cons Adam Sandler 6, Ian Beale 3. Pen Adam Sandler.

The Fatties Big Daddy; Colleen Nolan, Jonny Vegas, Oliver Hardy(Les Dawson, 32), Jo Brand (Friar Tuck, 56); Pavarotti, Chunk from the Goonies (Mr Toad, 64); Jabba the Hut (The Penguin, 20), Supernanny (Roly from Grange Hill, 64), Sherman Klump, Dawn French (Michelle McManus, 64), Russel Grant, James Corden (Alison Hammond, 71), Matt Lucas(capt), Fred Elliot.

Tries Dawn French. Con Pavarotti.

Referee Jesus (Heaven). Attendance 14

MARKHAM RFC 17 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 22 POINTS

MARKHAM RFC 17 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 22 POINTS

With both teams on maximum league points this was bound to have enough edge and steel in the contest to make it a compelling encounter and it lived up to all expectations. It wasn't until the last minute of play that Beaufort, already with a bonus point in the bag from four tries,
could let out a huge sigh of relief leaving the home side with a losing bonus point.

Beaufort began well attacking thrillingly from their own territory and were soon on the score sheet . Slick handling by their three quarters created the space
on the right flank for wing Kyle Purnell to race through for a try straight out of the text book. Lewis Hodson's wide angled conversion struck the cross bar but bounced over for a 7 point lead. Minutes later they came close to scoring again being stopped just short by a resolute Markham defence.

Then after ten minutes of play the referee sent a Markham player to the sin bin and showed a red card to his opposite number for retaliation. Beaufort had to pit themselves for the most of the match with fourteen men against a determined buoyed up host side. Despite superiority in numbers Markham could only manage a single penalty before the break . However , the penalty count was an issue in this match ; an unprecedented 20 to 4 against Beaufort. They were fortunate that Markham failed to exploit this advantage to the full.

When the next score came it was from Beaufort. A breakout out by fullback Hodson was finished off out wide with precision for a splendid try by Matthew Burrows.

This was quickly followed by another,an arguably the best try of the encounter. Beaufort attacked from deep and a wonderfully weighted pass from Chris Morris found Hodson, who cut a suberb angle at pace to notch up Beaufort's a third try and 17 point to 3 lead.

Beaufort then got themselves in trouble again with a sin binning offence reducing their number still further to 13. On this occasion Markham took full advantage and
despite herculean efforts by a robust Beaufort defence, the host side eventually crashed over their first try. From the the touchline Markham slotted over the conversion.

.But jubilation in their ranks was soon muted . From the restart a clearance kick was charged down by Beaufort's omnipotent flanker Andrew Morgan who collected the loose ball to off load into the waiting hands of Aaron Thomson. The hooker took his chance to scamper over in the corner to score Beaufort's fourth and bonus point try.

Beaufort's scoreline was improved to 22 points to 10 but they failed to nail their conversions and in the last quarter the lead did not sit easy with them.
They were continually punished sometimes harshly for technical offences in the scrummage and the line out thereby sacrificing hard fought territorial gains which kept them encamped in their 22. A Markham attack and some superb handling skills by an impressive centre partnership got them a second try and with the converion brought them within 5 points of the lead. With eight minutes of injury time being played the raucous atmosphere around King Georges Field from both sets of supporters reached boiling point as they urged on their teams. But Beaufort kept their nerve to hold out for a deserved win.

Beaufort's outstanding player on the day was Aron Thompson richly deserving the accolade of being Beaufort man of the match.

Old Eastenders vs New Eastenders

Old Eastenders (10) 17

Tries: Angie Watts, Wellard

Cons: Ethel Skinner 2

Pen: Ethel Skinner

Current Eastenders(6) 16

Tries: Janine Butcher

Cons: Bianca Butcher

Pens: Bianca Butcher 3

Reigning Fictional XV Cup Holders Old Eastenders survived a huge scare in their defence opener as Current Eastenders ran them close in Walford.

Eddie Moon’s side took a 16-10 lead after 54 minutes through their only try, by Janine Butcher.

But Wellard's try and Ethel Skinner’s conversion killed Current Eastenders hopes.

Wellard's was one of two Old Eastenders tries, Angie Watts going over early on while Ethel Skinner and Bianca Butcher kicked the rest of their side's points.

The pre-match hype belonged to a Current Eastenders team never shy of expressing confidence that they could compete on equal terms with the Old Eastenders in the wake of recent history.

But the opening minutes belonged to “Dirty” Den Watts ' side as they launched an efficient, try-building attack that belied Old Eastenders's reputation as masters of kick-and-chase.

Instead from Alfie Moon's kick-off, the ball moved through numerous hands and after a brief break for a scrum, the assault continued until Angie Watts fended off Ian Beale and Bianca Butcher to score at the corner.

The move featured a rare, but crucial missed tackle on “Dirty” Den Watts by Current Eastenders captain Ricky Butcher.

Ethel Skinner added the conversion from the touchline to underline her side's confident start.

Much of the rest of the 2007 champions' opening period tactics reverted to the type that Eddie Moon predicted.

But if the Old Eastenders approach was familiar, so was Current Eastenders' as they attempted to keep ball in hand to move Old Eastenders's forwards around the field as much as possible.

Ethel Skinner kicked a penalty in the 19th minute after Kat Moon went offside at a ruck.

Current Eastenders' reward for their efforts, however, was not the try they hoped for, but two Bianca Butcher penalties, the second after Arthur Fowler's high tackle on Max Branning.

Bianca Butcher also had a penalty overruled in the opening period, referee Deidre Barlow adjudging it had gone wide although TV replays suggested it may have drifted in.

At the back Bianca Butcher and Carol Jackson suffered occasional wobbles under Old Eastenders's aerial barrage while up front both sides won scrum penalties and the line-out contest was also fairly even.

However, Current Eastenders were on top at the breakdown for large periods while the Old Eastenders could boast a capable defence as they went into the break 10-6 ahead.

Pauline Fowler’s side began the second half with the same attacking intent as the first, but on this occasion Ricky Butcher was equal to the challenge, stripping the Old Eastenders captain of the ball and forcing a penalty.

At the other end Ian Beale' dash down the left set up a superb attacking platform five metres from the line.

But a poor Max Branning pass and Janine Butcher's snatched attempt at taking it killed the opportunity.

Having lost centre “Dirty” Den Watts , replaced by Grant Mitchell, to injury in the opening period, veteran lock Pat Butcher departed after Current Eastenders' early attack came to nothing.

If that was a boost, what followed lifted Current Eastenders hopes to pre-match levels.

Dot Cottons charge into the heart of the defence set up a ruck from which Max Branning sent Walford-born number eight Janine Butcher over for try confirmed by the video referee.

As befitted the reigning champions, they took the game back to Current Eastenders, drawing another penalty from Kat Moon.

But the Old Eastenders spurned the penalty shot at goal, instead launching an attack from a line-out that took them back into the lead only 11 minutes after Janine Butcher's score.

Wellard, on as a replacement for Carol Jackson, finished off the gamble with an unopposed burst through what remained of the Current Eastenders defence and Ethel Skinner added the conversion to put them a point ahead.

Current Eastenders' response was equally impressive in its construction, but ended with Alfie Moon Butchering his drop-goal attempt from in front of the posts.

Moments later Wellard conceded a penalty for holding on after the Old Eastenders tried to counter-attack from Alfie Moon's superb touch-finder.

But from a wide angle, Bianca Butcher could not hit the mark and when Kat Moon was caught on the margins of offside from a scrum, the Old Eastenders opted for the line-out and ground out the final minutes to secure victory.

Old Eastenders		Current Eastenders
Barry Evans	1	Heather Trott
Pauline Fowler	2	Phil Mitchell
Sonia Jackson	3	Mo Harris
Martin Fowler	4	Shirley Carter
Kathy Beale	5	Pat Butcher
Nick Cotton	6	Kat Moon
Archie Mitchell	7	Ricky Butcher
Frank Butcher	8	Janine Butcher
Peggy Mitchell	9	Max Branning
Ethel Skinner	10	Alfie Moon
Little Mo Slater	11	Carol Jackson
Grant Mitchell	12	Dot Cotton
“Dirty” Den Watts.	13	Tanya Branning
Arthur Fowler	14	Ian Beale
Angie Watts	15	Bianca Butcher
Grant Mitchell	16	Billy Mitchell
Wellard	17	Zanir Massood
Tiffany Mitchell	18	Whitney Dean
Mark Fowler	19	Jean Slater
Michelle Fowler	20	Michael Bianca Butcher
Charlie Slater	21	Jim Branning
Cindy Beale	22	Roxy Mitchell
Lou Beale	Manager	Eddie Butcher