Beccles 39, Dagenham 10: Beccles moved one step closer to winning London Division 3 North East as they scored tries at regular intervals to secure a comfortable win over Dagenham.

Beccles 39, Dagenham 10

Beccles moved one step closer to winning London Division 3 North East as they scored tries at regular intervals to secure a comfortable win over Dagenham.

The hosts had to rejig their backline as fullback Rowney has returned to Australia after two years at the club. Captain Murray moved back to his more natural fullback position, with Hoffman coming in on the wing.

In the pack Hinsley was given a rest, with Tipple given the start. Pitts was brought in on the bench to try him out as a replacement for the soon to be departing Ling.

Beccles started the game well and were soon in front. The pack drove the ball close to the Dagenham line. Sale peeled of the back and dummied the defence to go over for the score. Wade added the conversion.

Beccles continued to press the Dagenham defence but scoring opportunities were hard to come by in the difficult conditions. They did manage one more try before half-time. After a number of drives at the line Rix was driven over in the corner to make it 12-0 at the break.

Beccles scored again soon after half-time. Payne fed the ball to Musker McIntyre man of the match Wade who was running a cutting line.

He scythed through the defence and scored under the posts before converting his own try.

Beccles then took their foot of the gas and when Dagenham put together a flowing move to score in the corner the hosts had to get back on their game. They soon replied from a scrum on the 22 and a planned backrow move down the blindside ended in Williamson going over in the corner. Wade was unlucky when his conversion attempt came back of the upright.

Dagenham scored again before Beccles took control. Wade extended the lead with a penalty and then Murray put Paul Wilson in space out wide so he could canter in to score in the corner.

Beccles finished off the game with another try. They moved around the opposition defence which left room for Geyser to cut through and score a try. Wade added the conversion to complete the scoring.

Beccles travel to bottom side Billericay on Saturday looking for their first win at the Essex club. They could be celebrating promotion if they can win and either Wisbech or Canvey Island drop points.

Wisbech kept their slim title hopes alive when they won 15-13 at Canvey Island to join them on 25 points from 17 games while, in the same section, Lowestoft and Yarmouth's good run came to an end when they crashed to a surprise 36-3 defeat at Billericay.

In Eastern Counties One Crusaders were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat at Cantabrigian, losing 49-5, while Thetford's struggles continued as they lost 39-3 at second placed Stowmarket.

Swaffham reached the half century in Division Two, beating Felixstowe 53-10.

Dereham are still at the foot of the table but they put up a decent fight before losing 37-24 at home fourth placed Hadleigh.