London Two North Bury St Edmunds 23 Tabard 26 A SCINTILLATING break by centre Jack Reilly set up a last minute try for Tabard wing Neil Hopcroft to secure a dramatic win at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday. The London Two North mate was close throughout. Bu

London Two North

Bury St Edmunds 23 Tabard 26

A SCINTILLATING break by centre Jack Reilly set up a last minute try for Tabard wing Neil Hopcroft to secure a dramatic win at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday.

The London Two North mate was close throughout. Bury opened the scoring when centre Vuki carved through the defence and fed full back Mulama for the try which stand off Beukes converted.

Tabard responded by tightening the defence and they struck back with a try of their own. Hooker Brian Gates forced himself over the line.

The Radlett side were now in the ascendancy and a good break by second row Brad Montagu put Tabard in the Bury 22 metre area. A penalty to touch and a co-ordinated drive from the resulting line-out brought Tabard another try, claimed by Montagu and this time stand off Richard Woodard converted to give Tabard the lead 12-7.

Beukes converted a penalty to reduce Tabard's lead to two points and the game then settled down with Tabard playing solid rugby and Bury using their fast backs at every opportunity but finding the visitors impenetrable.

Just on half time another Tabard infringement gave Bury another penalty and the teams changed ends with Bury ahead 13-12.

The close contest continued into the second half until an attack from defence brought the Bury scrum half a try which Beukes converted.

Tabard quickly replied with Hopcroft carving through the defence to feed number eight Scott Stoba for the try. With Woodard adding the conversion Tabard were now within one point of Bury.

The game suddenly swung back to Bury as their pressure was rewarded with another penalty five minutes from time.

Bury appeared to have the points secured but a good drive on their scrum saw the scrum reversed for Tabs. From this Reilly and Hopcroft took centre stage and Woodward kicked the conversion to seal a sensational 26-23 win for Tabard.

At Cobden Hill, Radlett on Saturday, Tabard face Ruislip with a 3pm kick off.

Tabard: Fleuren, Offredy (Reilly 57), Thomas, Ashcroft, Hopcroft, Woodard, Karstel, Long, Gates, Davey, Montegu, O'Connor Troyer, Matheson, Stoba.