H&B claim sensational Vase win

Although only promoted from Kent One last season, cash-laden Aylesford are one of the region's most ambitious clubs. In addition to boasting some of the South's top facilities, they can call upon the services of no less than 107 players and the tie was probably just about the toughest Rob Hamilton's side could have possibly plucked at this stage.

Esteemed observers would have given H&B barely a glimmer of hope of landing their second London Four scalp in successive rounds with something in the region of a 30-point defeat representing the general consensus.

Therefore the 22-20 win will have sent shock waves through the entire south eastern rugby fraternity and will put the club right back on the regional map.

Hamilton, who unfortunately was unable to attend the match, enthused: "From speaking to Roger (coach Roger Stanley) he was very pleased. His view was that it was the best performance that the team had put in during the period he's been coach (four or five years). He thought that they played extremely well and it's certainly the best cup performance in my tenure (since 1981)."

H&B's reward is a trip to unbeaten London Four North West leaders Welwyn on January 17.

The ability of the forwards to contain Aylesford's seasoned and highly-regarded pack was always going to be crucial if the visitors were to pull off the shock of round four. And not only did they contain them, Sussex's sole survivors in the national competition outmuscled them to the extent that the hosts' tough Fijian prop Api Kata was banished to the sin-bin for stamping 15 minutes from time.

Once they had won the ball, they also used it to good effect. The half-back pairing performed particularly well with scrum-half Paul Sandeman regularly supplying quick ball to fly-half Kit Claughton who, for a change, had a chance to orchestrate the back division's moves. And, when necessary, they swapped roles allowing Sandeman's booming boot to clear danger.

Stout in defence and full of running in attack, H&B warded off the concession of a third minute Luke Cherrington penalty to take the game to their illustrious hosts who were on the back foot for much of the opening 65 minutes.

They deservedly went ahead after 20 minutes when Sandeman sped over on the right flank and converted his own try.

They maintained the pressure and scored another soon afterwards when Morgan & Lamplugh man of the match Martin Sheppard dived over after a quick tap penalty 20 metres out and Sandeman added a penalty to make it 15-3 at the break.

Claughton burst through the home defence five minutes into the second half for a third try that was converted by Sandeman from in front of the posts to leave them in dream land.

Aylesford rung the changes in a bid to pull it out of the fire but the anticipated comeback didn't materialise until a quarter of an hour from time when Simon Jones came off the back of a maul in the corner from where Cherrington converted.

The away side's near flawless defence understandably began to flag after such an immense effort and eight minutes from time Rob Jeffery pulled another try back.

Alex Tomlinson then went over in the corner but Cherrington missed the ensuing kick and, crucially, a simple last minute penalty from just 20 metres out in front of the posts.