by Peter Yates

Barnet Elizabethans 38
Old Ashmoleans 10
London Three North East

After a sluggish first half, Barnet Elizabethans improved their performance to comfortably win their penultimate league game with a five try to two victory over Old Ashmoleans at Byng Road on Saturday.

Unfortunately for them, second placed Fullerians also gained maximum points in their match so the two teams are separated by one point going into their final matches on 9th April.

Barnet Elizabethans need to win at Hitchin in the hope that Fullerians falter away to Wasps that day to gain the second promotion place.

Victory seemed very distant after a stalemate first half where Barnet had lots of possession but very little to prove it whilst the visitors, already relegated, were dogged opponents who levelled the scores at 10-10 in the last minute before the interval.

Despite a lot of possession, it took until the 15th minute for the home side to score and even that came from turnover ball sending Glyn Bayley sprinting down the wing for a try which Jonathan Hart converted.

However, Ashmoleans responded and a sloppy home defence let them in for a try. More possession for Elizabethans led to a penalty goal for Hart, under the posts to extend their lead to 10-3.

But the vistors drove over for a converted try in the final minute so the scores were level at the break.

With harsh words ringing in the player's ears, from coach Laurence Smith, the hosts responded and killed off their opponents with three tries in the next fifteen minutes.

A flowing backs move, with fullback Matthew Nicholas bursting through, saw Bayley score his second try which Hart converted.

Minutes later, after forward power, second row Jonathan Wilkins scored a try but that was his final part in the game as he was sin binned for throwing a punch after the try was awarded.

Despite being one man down, Barnet sealed the game with another good move, sending James Davies over for the vital fourth try to gain the bonus point.

Hart converted both these tries, as he did for the fifth try, by scrum half Robert Firth. The only disappointing note was the return of poor discipline by Elizabethans in the final quarter and more series of penalties conceded.

A second player was sin binned in this period. The coach will have to work on this aspect before 9th April: poor discipline could be vital in this crucial final match.

Barnet are away to Hemel Hempstead on Sunday (3rd April) in the Hertfordshire Tankard semi-finals, whilst their over 35s are at Hertford for the Sabbath Cup.