Beccles picked up a vital win in the battle of the bottom two, coming from behind before a late Lake try sealed victory.

The importance of the game meant Beccles opted for experience with Johnstone and Paul Wilson returning from injury in the second row and Pitts stepping into the front row. In the backs Murray started at fly-half with Payne and Gedney paired in the centre.

Beccles played the first half up the hill in to a strong wind. They kept ball in hand well but were pinned inside their own half for long periods before Harlow took the lead with a penalty.

The visitors responded with the game's first try. From a Beccles scrum on the Harlow five metre line Sale made a break. He was stopped just short of the line but was able to twist his body and put the ball down behind his head. The conversion was missed.

Harlow pressed Beccles back in their own half again and had them under pressure for long periods. They took the lead again with a penalty and, just before half-time, extended their lead with an unconverted try for an 11-5 lead.

With the wind behind them it was Beccles' turn to pin Harlow in their own half, and they quickly drew level with two Murray penalties.

Even when Beccles lost Pitts to injury, Rob Wilson stepped into the front row and continued their dominance of their scrum. From the Harlow five they went for the push over and were only stopped by infringements which at the fourth attempt led to the referee awarding a penalty try. Murray added the conversion.

Harlow had a late surge trying to get back in to the game. After a number of drives at the Beccles line they eventually scored out wide. The conversion was missed to leave Beccles with a two-point lead with two minutes to play.

With time nearly up Beccles had a scrum in the middle of the park. They drove it forward and man of the match Attila Baksza broke from No 8 and set the ball back for skipper Lake to break through a gap in the defence and side-step the full-back to score under the posts. Murray added the conversion to ensure that Harlow did not even get a bonus point for their efforts.

Beccles now face a tough trip to Chelmsford on Saturday – but if they can replicate the performance against Harlow they will have a chance of making it three wins in a row.