Harlow 24

Basingstoke 26

(London and south-east Division One)

DESPITE putting on one of their best performances of the season, the Rams found second place Basingstoke to strong to over haul.

The home side were quick into the attack and after recycling a penalty quickly Rhys Loveday released fullback Brown to run it home into the corner for a 5-0 lead.

Basingstoke were however quick to counter, and within minutes had scored a try of their own, which their fullback later added to with a score under the posts and with the resulting conversion fired home it was soon 5-12.

Basingstoke continued to press forward and scored another try and conversion to leave it at 5-19.

Harlow fought back and winger Simon Vanbeck scored in the corner and this time Rhys Powell was on target with the conversion to reduce the scores to 12-19.

But Basingstoke again broke into the Rams half just before the interval and grabbed another try by the posts, which was easily converted.

The home side fought back in the second half but trys from Lee Harron and Paul Ansell, plus a further conversion from Powell weren't quite enough to secure the win.