Lowestoft & Yarmouth 42, St Albans 19: L&Y took the opportunity to rest some players in Saturday's Senior Vase tie and take a good look at some promising youngsters coming through and coach Scott Nelson was rewarded with an exciting performance.

St Albans had an equivalent number of changes but boast a great league record this season so it was to L&Y's credit that they dominated almost every facet of play, scoring six tries to the visitors' three.

Carl Stephenson came in at loosehead after his long recovery from a nasty shoulder injury and fine display hinted at further appearances.

Captain for the day, Chris Howe, had a fine match appearing across the front row and at flanker at various times.

Richard Bristo had his first full game for a long time at tighthead prop and helped set the platform up front which ultimately won the game.

Young Dan Proctor had only his second full game for the firsts at second row and, alongside Russ Wilkinson, he is settling superbly. Doug Archer had a first start on the flank, proving he has the ability to step up a level, and was replaced at half-time by John Mills, returning back to the game after his own set of arm and hip injuries.

The game started well for L&Y and a scrum on the St Albans five metre line was driven forwards and Marc Thomas picked up to burst over. Russ Chapman and Dave Tiueti then took advantage of some superbly presented possession to send Thomas through a tattered defence for his second try, Chapman converting.

Howe got a similar score later in the half as charges by Steve Adams and Proctor sent the defence backwards for Sutherland and Tiueti to work space. On the stroke of half-time a spilled pass led to an opening try for St Albans.

After a few changes at half-time a great drive from replacement Mills set up a penalty for Chapman and then a move involving Chapman and Thomas made ground down the left and Howe crashed over again.

An intercepted pass led to a second St Albans try before a Chapman penalty stretched the home side's lead.

Thomas' dummy run off the back of a scrum then helped Nelson flummox the visiting defence and cut under the posts, and once the coach had intercepted a midfield pass and raced 60 metres to score again the game was won, although St Albans did score again.

• Beccles were unable to follow Lowestoft and Yarmouth into the third round of the Senior Vase on Saturday. They made a game of it at Welwyn but eventually slipped to a 35-20 defeat. Beccles resume the search for their first London 2NE win of the season on Saturday when they play host to Chelmsford while Lowestoft and Yarmouth are at home to Woodford.