Joshua’s on fire from the tee for Barnes

By RICHARD LEWIS

Barnes…………20

Dings C …………15

TWO late penalties from Joshua Hammett were enough for Barnes to come from behind and snatch victory against Dings Crusaders.

Hammett was nerveless with the boot throughout the contest as the home side edged to victory, despite the visitors racking up three tries to the west Londoners' two.

It was the hosts who struck the first blow, going ahead in 15 minutes when hooker George Head crashed over, Hammett slotting the extras.

But this advantage was heavily reduced almost instantly as Dings hit back through Head's opposite number Thomas Anderson, who claimed an unconverted score.

Flying wing Robbie Martey extended Barnes' lead just after the restart, with Hammett once again on target with the two additional points.

The game was then turned on its head in the space of seven minutes as the half wore on, wing Joshua Trinham crossing the whitewash on the hourmark for another five points, before repeating the feat seven minutes later to put the Crusaders into a 15- 14 lead.

Crucially, however, none of Dings tries were converted and they were made to pay.

Hammett swung the balance once again with ten minutes left by nailing a nerveless penalty and he then added another on 75 minutes to round off a battling victory.

TEAMS

BARNES: O'Toole, Martey, Van Buuren, Butler, Ruddock, Hammett, Davies, Hunter, Head, McArthur, Seabright, Collins, Van der Poel, Smyth, Hind

Replacements: Ryan, Garrett, Steele, Avis, Coles

DINGS CRUSADERS: Grattan, Trinham, Smith, Brooker, Tovey, Arscott, Plummer, Hall, Anderson, Challenger, Curry, Bilton, Allen, Knight, Holcombe

Replacements: Lloyd, Hawkesby, Tsangari, Swan, Cappaert

REFEREE: Philip Davies

ATTENDANCE: 103

Star man

Joshua Hammett – Barnes