TITLE-chasing Beckenham were well-matched for two thirds of the match by bottom club Thurrock in Saturday's (22 March) London and South East Regional 2 South East clash.

However, a yellow card for Dritan Loka after a high-tackle 15 minutes into the second half gave the high-flying hosts a numerical advantage they seized on and a blistering individual run and touchdown from Jack Gurney, which was converted, stretched what had been a two-point gap to nine and Beckenham never looked back.

The game saw a number of returns as Nathaniel Farrell returned to T's having spent the past 6 seasons at Dagenham whilst Ben Stanley answered the call as he came out of another short lived retirement to fill in at Fly half. Coach Darryl Worster was another one to dust off the boots too, as he stepped into the number 9 jersey. There was also a debut for young Kieron Sherman-Coulson, taking the tally of last seasons Colts to make their 1st XV Debuts to 8 this season.

Thurrock had started well and were unfortunate to concede the first try in the sixth minute. A free-flowing Beckenham move stretched the Thurrock defence and a try looked on, only for Caolan Watts-Adams to steal the ball and he attempted to clear his lines with a kick. The ball struck a Beckenham player and ricocheted towards the try-line and was picked up and touched down by Geordie Boyce. Thurrock thought he was offside but the try stood and was converted.

It took five minutes for Thurrock' resolve to result in a try from returning veteran Ben Stanley, who finished after a strong scrum had pushed Beckenham onto the back foot. Harry Reynold's conversion attempt fell just short.

And Thurrock were to take the lead thanks to the opportunism of Darryl Worster in the 25th minute. First he turned defence into attack with a burst through the Beckenham backs, followed by a diagonal kick close to the corner and Beckenham's try-line. From the resultant throw Thurrock's forwards gathered and drove towards the line, with Worster picking the ball off the back and surging and diving to get the ball over the try line. Again Reynolds couldn't add the extras.

To their credit, Beckenham responded straight from the restart and a counter attack resulted in Rimarni Richards diving over the line, though he appeared to spill the ball and didn't get a clean touchdown. Again it was a contentious moment that the referee adjudicated on in the hosts' favour. The try was converted to stretch the lead to 14-10 and it remained that way at the interval

Thurrock made a great start to the second half, pressing Beckenham back but it was the home side who got the next score when Lewis Bunton dove over from close range.

But the resilience of the visitors was undiminished and they put their hosts under more pressure, with number of forward pick up and drives along the tryline following a line-out, ultimately resulting in a long pass taken by Kodie Holloway who dove over at full stretch to touch down between the posts. Reynolds converted and Thurrock looked to be right back in it.

However, that was as close as they were to get.

Loka saw yellow, Gurney weaved his try-scoring magic and the lead was stretched again and - as the clock ticked down - the hosts took control and closed out what was ultimately a convincing winning margin with three more tries.

The score line was cruel on Thurrock, but that has often the way it's been this season.