NO STOPPING HIM: Barking’s George Kruis barges his way through the Rugby Lions defence during Saturday’s victory. Photo: George Phillipou.

NATIONAL THREE SOUTH Barking 31 Rugby Lions 10 Barking made it four home wins on the spin following a comfortable victory over Rugby Lions on Saturday, writes CHRIS RICHARDS. Tries from Edward Ambrose, Chris Jones and Alec Jenkins, plus 16 points from the

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NATIONAL THREE SOUTH

Barking 31

Rugby Lions 10

Barking made it four home wins on the spin following a comfortable victory over Rugby Lions on Saturday, writes CHRIS RICHARDS.

Tries from Edward Ambrose, Chris Jones and Alec Jenkins, plus 16 points from the boot of the excellent Craig Ratford saw the Goresbrook side earn their ninth win of the season.

Director of coaching Alex Codling made five changes to the side which drew at Richmond, with Alec Jenkins, Edward Ambrose, Adam Kwasnicki, Daniel Lloyd-Jones and James Kellard coming in.

On a chilly afternoon in Dagenham, Barking took just three minutes to open their account, stand-off Ratford confidently landing a penalty from the half-way line after the visitors were ruled offside.

Rugby began to feel their way into the match, but a second penalty from Ratford saw the Essex side extend their lead.

Barking exerted increasing pressure on the Warwickshire club's defence and their efforts were finally rewarded when prop Ambrose crashed over on 29 minutes.

Ratford added the extras to give Codling's men a 13-0 lead at the break.

The hosts emerged unchanged for the second half, but were caught cold almost immediately, when a defensive lapse saw Rugby flanker Liam Munro barge over.

Ex-Barking fly-half Harry Owens pulled his conversion attempt wide, before Ratford notched his third penalty of the game to get Barking back on track.

At this point Rugby were still in contention, but then hooker Matthew Price saw red for a deliberate punch and the complexion of the match changed.

Another penalty from the metronomic Ratford stretched the Goresbrook outfit's lead, before Jones scored their second try.

Receiving the ball out wide, the tricky winger dummied, before using all his pace to dive over in the corner.

Man of the match Ratford bisected the posts with his conversion to put Barking 26-5 up with 18 minutes to play.

But the home side again made a defensive error, allowing prop James Tyers to touch down on 74 minutes.

Owens missed his conversion attempt, before Jenkins had the last word, crossing in the corner to round off a good afternoon's work for Barking.

Speaking after the match, Codling said: "At times we played some nice stuff but it made it more difficult with too many unforced errors. We gave them needless territory, which put us under pressure.

"We have got loads to work on, but we are moving forward."

Barking: Jenkins, Jones, Wardingley, Flannery, Shaw, Ratford, Gash, E Ambrose (F Ambrose 73), Kwasnicki (Bloomberg 48), Hunter, Lloyd-Jones, Kruis, Etheredge, Kellard, Andrews.