Billericay stunned leaders Wanstead to seal their fourth Essex One match on the spin on Saturday.
They ran out 17-16 winners in a real thriller as they hit back from a 13-3 half-time deficit.
After 30 minutes of stalemate, with both defneces working hard, Andy Collings broke the deadlock with a penalty for Bees, but a mix-up in defence allowed the pace-setters in for a try.
A second followed before the break with the Billericay defence at sixes and sevens and a penalty for the visitors completed the first-half scoring.
Excellent driving from the forwards and strong running from backs Dan Kell, Andy Warren and Adam Young had Wanstead in trouble and the hosts finally got the try they deserved when Mark Yates scored from the back of a maul.
Gollings converted and although Wanstead's penalty put them further in front again, Billericay kept piling on the pressure.
The decisive try came ten minutes from time when evergreen scrum-half Glen Smith charged down a clearance and stormed over.
Brett Smith kicked Canvey's only Essex One points as they slipped to a 16-3 defeat at Maldon.
Westcliff kept up their Essex One promotion push with an emphatic 30-3 win over Upminster.
They came through a potentially testing fixture in style and remain third in the table, one point adrift of leaders Upper Clacton and second-placed Wanstead.
Finally in the top flight, Stanford went down 20-8 at East London.
Rayleigh Wyverns were thumped 50-0 at home by Dagenham in Essex Two, while Division Three leaders May & Baker edged past Pegasus Palmerians 11-6.
Published Tuesday January 13, 2004
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