London 3 Eastern Counties Southwold 62 Crusaders 17 This was a clear battle between the exuberant youth and pace of joint-top Southwold and the canny experience of the older and bigger Crusader team, who put Wold under great pressure several times in the game, writes David Vaughan.

East Anglian Daily Times: Milo Cawkwell on the run for Southwold. Picture: LINDA CAYLEYMilo Cawkwell on the run for Southwold. Picture: LINDA CAYLEY (Image: Archant)

It was Crusaders who silenced the watching home spectators by opening the scoring after only five minutes with a great try out to the left hand side, but just too far out for the conversion attempt.

Wold looked a little stunned but began to dominate play from that point onwards and only a few minutes later James Barton made a great individual break through the middle of the Crusader back line and Sherard Block was backing up to race in under the posts. The easy conversion made it 7-5 in Wold’s favour.

Now the home side really got going, as first Cemil Duruk and then James Barton crossed to make it 19-5.

Crusaders bounced back with a try of their own to make it 19-12, but Barton was at it again, dancing and wriggling his way to the line to score with an outstretched arm as he was tackled. 24-12 Wold, and they weren’t done yet - Jacob English finishing off a fine move to make it 31-12 at the break.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sherard Block rumbles through for Southwold. Picture: LINDA CAYLEYSherard Block rumbles through for Southwold. Picture: LINDA CAYLEY (Image: Archant)

Eight minutes into the second half Wold were at it again, camped in the Crusaders 22, passing and keeping possession from ruck after ruck when young Milo Cawkwell cut a great line and simply ran through under the posts to score. Ben Felton added the two points and the lead increased to 38-12

Wold then pulled completely away with two tries in under a minute, with first Sammy Harmer and then James Hall going over. A pair of Felton conversions made it 52-12 with ten minutes left.

To their credit Crusaders, who could have folded, battled their way back up the pitch to score and make it 52-19.

Back up the other end Harmer crossed again but the kick was narrowly missed. Then it was Jon Utting again with two minutes to go who broke the Crusader defensive line and sprinted away to feed James Barton, who was just too quick for the opposition and ran round the outside for the final try of the game in the corner.

Crusaders had battled well and perhaps deserved more from the game but there is no substitute for pace, no matter how clever or strong you are.