Beccles must wonder what they have to do to beat Mersea.

Riding on the back of five successive wins they made the long trip to the Island with great expectations of finally putting the Mersea ghost to rest.

However, once again it was not to be and the Islanders made it four wins in four meetings against the Norfolkers.

On a wet pitch but otherwise in near perfect conditions the Islanders, with a stiff breeze behind them, took the game to Beccles from the kick-off.

The Islanders were 70 up after ten minutes of play.

Mersea came straight back from the restart and put Beccles under further pressure with prop Adie Evans being stopped just short of the line following a five-metre lineout.

However, the Islanders were not to be denied and from another five-metre scrum number eight Harry Ackerman picked up and drove over for a try ten metres from the touchline.

Williams just missed with the conversion attempt but the lead was stretched.

Eventually Beccles narrowed the lead to one point with a fine 30-metre penalty but then failed to take the lead with a second penalty.

Mersea managed to counter on several occasions but each time were forced back on the defensive.

Finally restored to 15 men they held firm and won the day by the narrowest of margins.

Published Wednesday, January 29, 2003

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