BASILDON 23

BILLERICAY 17

Basildon beat their neighbours to win the Essex Senior Cup final in front of up to 2,000 fans at Ilford - but Billericay were kicking themselves after a late gamble went spectacularly wrong.

New towners were leading 20-17 towards the end of a very tight game when Billericay were awarded a penalty close to their opponents' line.

Billericay had been winning more than their fair share of line-out and opted to pass up the chance of levelling the game with an almost certain three-pointer and instead booted for touch.

They reasoned that their strong line-out play could put them in position to score a try, thus giving them a two-point advantage with a conversion to come.

But fly-half John Steven scuffed his kick and the ball went out of play, leaving a relieved Basildon with a scrum in their own half.

From there they went straight up the field to score a penalty from Matt Tilson, who had the final word in a match he had dominated almost from the start.

The Basildon outside-half also scored a try and dictated the pace of the game with his inspired play-calling and excellent running play.

Billericay, who won the Tetley's Bitter Vase last season, came close to a second piece of silverware and fought their opponents all the way with their forward play.

But they had no answer to the Basildon three-quarters, orchestrated with confidence by Tilson to the extent that the backs had a major part in all four of the new towners' tries.

Billericay had taken a 3-0 lead from a Steven penalty before Basildon got on the board with a try from instrumental full-back Barry Eldridge.

The score was set up by prop Richard Dennis, a rival to Tilson for man-of-the-match honours, who powered forward past a wall of Billericay defenders.

The next Basildon try was a classic. From a loose maul, Tilson spread the ball along the three-quarters to Eastern Counties winger Lloyd Williams, who was never going to be caught as he hit full stride down the wing to touch down.

Billericay led briefly at 12-10, but further tries from Tilson and Australian centre Spencer Cackett gave Basildon a decisive 20-12 lead. Although their opponents scored a further try and put new towners under some late pressure, Basildon were worthy winners.

Spokesman Dai Griffiths confirmed the partying had yet to die down and said: "I'm really pleased for the coach and the whole club. Hopefully now we can round off the season by clinching second place in London Three next weekend."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.