. Beccles started the game in the worst possible manner. A wheeled scrum in the Beccles twenty two allowed the Upminster number eight a free run to the Beccles try line for the first try of the game. Beccles were further behind soon after when an Upminster loose-forward crashed through a hole in the Beccles defence for try number two.

Beccles found their way back into the game. Important turnovers from Harmer and Guy forced Beccles into the Upminster half. A searing run from Wade resulted in Harrisson being put in for a try in the corner. Beccles continued to find momentum, and from inside the Beccles half Harrisson found half a yard of space on the outside. A blistering fifty yard dash soon followed with Harrisson scoring under the posts. Ten minutes from half time and Beccles took the lead.

A strong platform from a Beccles line-out gave the backs the space to work the ball wide once more and Harrisson again ran over for his first half hat-trick. Beccles looked to be in control but a strong run from the Upminster centre resulted in a try under the Beccles posts, giving the home side a 24-19 half time advantage.

Despite the scoreline, Beccles felt that they had control of the game and that it was Upminster feeling the pressure. However as the second half progressed a series of injuries caused momentum in the game to change. Hay (arm), Moore (calf) and Bonner (knee) all had to be replaced. This meant the Beccles set-piece failed to find parity that they enjoyed in the first half, making it difficult for the backs to gain any front foot ball.

The pressure soon took its toll and with this Upminster clinically dispatched three tries without reply in a costly ten minute spell. Beccles continued to show heart, with Durak, Tieuti and Hewitt all having promising runs, however a stubborn Upminster defence shut down the attacks.

A tiring Beccles side continued to leak tries despite some valiant defending from Payne and Adam. With the game coming to a close Beccles continued to play for an all important four try bonus point. After some patient build up again the ball was fed Harrisson who stepped the man ahead of him to touch down his fourth try of the game. Wade slotted two from four conversions in testing conditions.

B&B Skip Hire man of the match unsurprisingly went to Tom Harrisson who will be sorely missed by the Bulls as he continues his rugby journey in Italy for the rest of the season. Credit must go to the players who travelled to Upminster, when many clubs would forfeit the game with the amount of unavailabilities that Beccles had, the club showed great depth to field a full eighteen. Particular thanks Tom Moore, Stuart Adam, Conner Shipley, Luke Hazzard, John Payne, Gavin Hewitt and Cemil Durak for all making the trip. Beccles now have a week off before hosting Harlow at home on the 15th November.

Beccles XV: Hay, Adams, Moore, Johnstone, Guy, Goode (C), Hall, Adam, Hewitt, Evans, Tieuti, Bonner, Harmer, Harrisson, Wade. Rep: Payne, Durak, Hazzard, Shipley