Ongar 10
May & Baker 8
(Essex Three)

ONGAR held out to secure a battling victory over Essex Three rivals May and Baker.

Love Lane witnessed a tough, low-scoring encounter where most of the action took place in the first 40 minutes.

Steve Everson's try epitomised the combative nature of the clash. He received the ball after captain David Blake had been ground to a halt five metres from the try-line.

Everson put his head down and powered across for five points. Nick Carey then stepped up and secured another two with the conversion.

He then added to the tally just before the half-time whistle with a penalty for Ongar to go in 10-3 up.

The visitors' only score came via their own penalty.

That proved to be the last of the scoring for the Love Laner's, as in the second period May and Baker mounted a charge which saw them claw the score back to 10-8, with an unconverted try.

But Ongar's resilience saw them hang for the victory, and they currently sit second in the division.

Captain, Blake said: "We played well in the first half, and forgot how to play after that. But we have the team to win the league, and that is our aim this season."