HALSTEAD TEMPLARS 24 BRIGHTLINGSEA 19

Greene King Eastern Counties League division three south

Halstead Templars put a dent in Brightlingsea’s Greene King Eastern Counties League division three south promotion hopes while keeping themselves in third spot with a fourth consecutive victory.

Having lost 62-0 in the away fixture in November and never beaten a Brightlingsea first XV before, the Templars showed their confidence by recording a memorable 24-19 victory against a side who had racked-up more than 100 points in their previous game against Clacton Kestrels.

The Templars went ahead in the tenth minute when Matt Harwood scored the opening try before Brett Ballard added the extra two points with a conversion.

The visitors drew level ten minutes later, but prop Jordan Samuel powered over for an unconverted try before half-time to give Halstead the advantage at the break.

Brightlingsea did add two more tries after the break, but man-of-the match Richard Hickox rounded off a fluent backs move and a penalty try, which was converted by Ballard, gave Templars the victory.

Halstead travel to struggling Stowmarket thirds on February 20.