President's XV's blend of youth and experience gave them a decisive edge against an under-strength 1st XV side packed with players on the fringe of the first team.

The annual clash was full of free-flowing rugby and it wasn't long before the 1st XV opened the scoring. From a line out near the President's goal line, the ball was sent back to hooker Darren Morrant who crashed through to score.

But President's were soon back on level terms when Matt Andersson sped up the wing to touch down in the corner. Former first teamer James Shearing (now with Barking) then took the ball some 35 yards out and, after selling an outrageous dummy, surged over to put President's 10-5 up.

The game then became a little scrappy but President's put in a tremendous effort and pinned Westcliff back inside their own 22-yard line. Dashiel Allum went over for a try and Andersson converted it to hand them a 17-5 lead.

Lewis Harvey led the 1st XV fightback when he ran over to bring them to within seven points.

But tries from Tony Brown, Chris Tansley and James Argentieri plus another Andersson conversion saw the President's XV stretch their lead to 34-10.

There followed a session of aerial ping-pong more suited to an Aussie Rules match, but Tansley finally broke open the play to run over his second try and make it 39-10. The score kickstarted the 1st XV into life and a try from Ben Weller, plus a second from Morrant, brought the score back to a more respectable 39-20.

Picture, top: Not all the President's men - This lone member of Westcliff's President's XV attempts to evade the clutches of his first team rivals during their annual fixture

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.