Ongar 29
Stanford-le-Hope 26
(Essex Three) THESE two clubs, who find themselves in the lower half of the league provided an entertaining game.

Despite being smaller, the technical ability of the Ongar pack shone through and from a lineout the ball was caught and driven over with prop Ian Fish rising with hands on the ball.

Stanford responded well, and mistakes out wide from the hosts allowed the visitors to level the scores, which is how it stayed after the conversion attempt came back off a post.

Ongar's reply was a try from outside centre Gary Sanderson, running onto great ball provided by the pack to make it 10-5. The hosts continued to press forward and from an excellent penalty move straight off the training pitch, Fish scored his second try of the game, which was converted this time by Martyn Rankin.

What followed was a good comeback from the visitors with two tries, both converted, to leave Ongar trailing at 17-19 at half time.

The second half was pretty much a repeat of the first, with Ongar's forwards dominating the play.

This was never more evident than when Andy Surridge touched down after the pack drove over the Stanford scrum. Rankin was again on target with the extras to put the home side back in front at 24-19. With the game heading towards full-time, the Love Lane outfit seemed to have made the game safe when Steve Everson bulldozed his way over to stretch the lead to ten points.

But with ten minutes remaining Stanford scored a try under the posts that allowed for an easy conversion.

Ongar held onto the ball for the majority of the game, although they were still thankful for a try-saving tackle from Dave Blake before the end.

Ongar head for local rivals Loughton on Saturday in the Presidents Cup.