IT proved a good night for Halstead Templars' seconds as they had twin triumphs in a triangular round robin contest at Sudbury Rugby Club.

The Templars had games against the hosts and also Essex University's development side and ended up winning them both.

The opening encounter was against Sudbury and it was Halstead who edged a low-scoring encounter.

Halstead had to come from behind as Sudbury took a 7-0 lead with an early converted try, but that advantage was cut to two when Sam Edwards ran in a try and Brett Ballard's penalty kick then proved decisive as the Templars finished as 8-7 winners.

There then followed a match against the university side and a more comfortable victory for Halstead.

Once again, though, they had to come from a deficit after the students ran-in an early try for a 5-0 lead.

That was cancelled out when Graham Watson scored, before the conversion by Ed Merry gave the Templars an advantage that they never relinquished.

Adi Illingworth's try on 20 minutes put them 12-5 ahead and a try by Bradley Cox, who then added the conversion made it 19-5 at the final whistle to Halstead.