Beckenham 47 v 14 Andover

Rugby Union London League Two South

BRCKENHAM'S victory edges them closer to survival but they are not clear of the relegation woods just yet.

They are two points ahead of Andover and Tunbridge Wells but one from the trio will be drop down a division.

But because of a vastly superior goal difference, one more win from the last two games will make Beckenham absolutely safe.

So the objective is simple - they must beat Sevenoaks when they play their final home league game on March 31.

This is because their final match of the season is away to the undisputed champions Sutton where victory would be very tall order.

Against Andover, Beckenham had most of the play in the first 20 minutes but all they had to show for their dominance was three points from the boot of Sam Howard.

First to score a try was full-back Neil Dipple, who has now scored in every league game he has played, going over close to the corner flag in the left corner.

The difficult conversion was missed by Howard.

Pacy winger Julian Rogers scored next for Beckenham and the conversion, from almost the same spot as the last, was missed again.

The forwards claimed the next score when Howard kicked long for touch from a penalty in the Beckenham half.

The line-out, just outside the 22, was well won and the forwards set up a big 30m drive which took them over the try line.

The referee awarded the score and Danny Allen claimed it, Howard kicked the conversion.

The final score of the half came from winger Kirsten Block who was playing his final match for Beckenham before he returns to South Africa - Howard was successful for a 27-0 half-time lead.

Early in the half Beckenham lost Block with a knee injury and he was replaced by James Hixon on the wing.

Hixon's first duty was to defend and he did enough in his own 22 to tackle and slow the ball down to stop Andover making the most of a scoring opportunity.

Shortly later the big Andover tight head, Martin Wassell, picked up and ran at the Beckenham defence.

He broke a couple of tackles and his pace did the rest to go over beneath the posts - the conversion was easy for stand-off Guy Wilkinson.

Beckenham took play into the Andover half and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts.

To keep the score board ticking over Howard took the three points on offer.

Jarrad Tipene got Beckenham's next try before Andover scored against the run of play.

The final tries came from Tipene and Rogers.

After the game a delighted Sam Howard praised his forward in particular saying: "They were magnificent.

"I'd also like to thank the supporters, it looked like our biggest crowd of the season. They make all the difference."