1 South East

SHELFORD staged a stunning comeback in their top of the table clash at Tring, eventually running out 26-22 winners.

The third-placed visitors took a maximum five-point haul to close the gap on second-placed Tring to just three points in the table.

Tring started well opening up a 15-0 lead after 13 minutes but winger Louie Tang’s try reduced the deficit. Tring extended their lead to 22-5 with a try and conversion in the 25th minute. However, fortunes shifted in Shelford’s favour in the closing stages of the first half when the visitors were awarded a penalty try and Tring were reduced to 14 men.

The Peacocks capitalised after the break when Joseph Gill dived over with Lewis Cracknell converting to narrow the score to 22-19. Flanker Harry Rogerson then put Shelford ahead with his try converted by Harry Taylor with stout defence ensuring a fine win.

Elsewhere, Colchester also fought back superbly to win 34-12 against visiting Sidcup.

The visitors started the better and notched early tries through flankers

Liam Healey and Zak Jones. But Colchester countered in style as they scored 34 unanswered points.

Prop James Mitchell got the first Colchester try from a rolling maul, though Chris Lewis missed the conversion.

Lewis made amends with a penalty early in the second half and soon after converted Mitchell’s second try. Harrison Pickett grabbed the third try, again converted by Lewis, with Corey Button securing the bonus point try midway through the half. Ross Taylor completed the scoring with Colchester’s fifth try, converted by Lewis.

Meanwhile Westcombe Park won a high-scoring affair at Sudbury eventually winning 43-26.

The league leaders were never behind with tries coming from Harry Hudson, Sam Rhodes, Nick Cook (two), Kieran Thompson, Jack Cowman and Joe Cooper.

Fly-half George Montgomery was the star man for Tunbridge Wells with two tries and conversions in their 14-3 home win against Hertford.

In other fixtures, it was honours even as Harpenden drew 26-26 with

Bedford Athletic while

Medway edged a tight affair against CS Stags

by 29-24.