ESSEX ONE Millwall 13 East London 14 East London recorded a second consecutive away victory, narrowly defeating local rivals Millwall, in the hosts first-ever match at Millwall Park on Saturday. A high penalty count led to a somewhat stop-start game, bu

ESSEX ONE

Millwall 13

East London 14

East London recorded a second consecutive away victory, narrowly defeating local rivals Millwall, in the hosts' first-ever match at Millwall Park on Saturday.

A high penalty count led to a somewhat stop-start game, but the match ebbed and flowed continuously, both sides enjoying periods of dominance in each half.

East London started the stronger, but fell behind to a Dom Sutherland penalty after infringing at a ruck 30 yards out in front of their own posts.

Effective defence meant neither side could capitalise on decent possession in the first 20 minutes, before a counter attack led to East London's first score.

Winger Kenton Stanford returned a mediocre kick in typically rampaging style and quickly recycled ball was moved left, before slick hands from the outside backs put flanker Dan Bracken in under the posts for a 7-3 lead at half time.

The lead was stretched early in the second half, when more good handling culminated in replacement Ross De Goede going over.

Fly-half Ali Gonse added the conversion and with East London's pack dominant, the 14-3 lead appeared a strong one.

However, a lack of discipline allowed Millwall back into the game and they scored two well-worked tries.

First, a crisp Millwall back-line move involving centre James Reilly and full back Karl Mitchell, stretched the East London backs to breaking point with winger Ben Smith finishing clinically.

Sutherland missed the conversion, but scrum-half Brent McMillan made an incisive break, starting off a dashing move involving Sutherland and Mitchell before rounding off his own work and diving over the line in the right corner.

Yet again Sutherland missed the tricky conversion from the sideline, leaving the score tantalisingly at 14-13 with just five minutes to play.

With less then a minute remaining, a penalty was awarded to Millwall on the half-way line for holding on to the ball after the tackle, but Reilly's goal attempt drifted away to the right of the posts, leaving the visitors with a hard-fought victory and the bitter taste of disappointment in Millwall mouths.

Southend IV 7

East London Wyverns 40

DARREN SALMON scored two tries as East London Wyverns powered their way to victory against Southend fourths.

The visitors made a dream start when John Walker scored, before tries from Haidar Kamuss and Salmon made it 21-0 at the break.

In the second period, Jim Crick went over, while Felipe Ramirez touched down and Salmon picked up his second score of the day.

Man of the match was Adrian Samuel, and London host Old Brentwoods this weekend.

* EAST LONDON thirds beat Millwall fourths 36-19.