On a sunny day in east london Barking and London Scottish faced up in a title deciding match up that has had fans drooling for a long time. Barking went into the game knowing that they must avoid defeat if they were to stay alive in the title race.

Scottish started the brighter in this gruelling contest. After Barking kicked the ball out on the full, Scottish had a lineout inside the Barking twenty-two and they made full use of it. After taking the lineout flanker Lewis Calder spun of the maul and drove over somewhat unopposed to give Scottish the lead. Ex-Barking fly-half Craig Ratford converted the try to give Scottish 7-0 lead.

Barking could have folded quite easily after going behind so early in such an important match. However, they did the opposite and started to dominate the match. Full-back Adam Armstrong narrowly missed two penalties as Barking looked for a way back into the match.

The home side were undetered by these misses and scored their first try of the match after 25 minutes. After kicking to the corner and putting mountains of pressure on the Scottish defence they were awarded a penalty try. The scottish defence had given away three penalties and referee Terry Hall lost patience and awarded Barking the try. Armstrong kicked the conversion and the sides were level at 7-7.

Barking had the better of the the latter stages of the half but still went into the break behind after a late Ratford penalty. With the score at 7-10 both teams were still in the game and this made for an exciting second-half.

The first score of the second-half would be crucial and it went in Barking's favour as Armstrong notched up his second penalty after 41 minutes and the Barking scrum was beginning to dominate.

Barking took the lead for the first time in the match in the 50th minute through another Armstrong penalty and the Barking fans were starting to believe that it could be their day.

Scottish came back however, and pushed the eastenders back into their twetny-two. The Scottish forwards drove for the line on a number of occasions and despite having around twenty phases of play inside ten metres of the Barking try line, the home defence somehow held out and showed real character and courage to hold their opponents at bay.

Barking had the scrum in the twetny-two and although Scottish regained the ball they still couldn't breach the Barking defence. Having held out Barking began to look comfortable and as the game began to reach it's climax Barking were in the ascendancy.

In the 75th minute Alexander Karonias was sent to the sin bin and Scottish were down to 14 men. Barking had the ball in the Scottish twenty-two and as their forwards held the ball it seeemed as though Barking had wrapped up victory and the national league one title.

However there was one last moment of drama, a moment that would cost Barking the title and give Scottish the win. Barking did what they have done all season and decided to go for the kill and score the try that would settle the match. They had an extra man out wide and after Jack Gash passed the ball out to fly-half Will Nelson he threw the ball out wide looking for David Vincent but to his and the crowds astonishment the ball was intercepted by the pacy David Howells who ran the length of the pitch to give Scottish the try and the win. It was an unfortunate moment for the Barking fly-half who has been brilliant since his arrival in January. Ratford converted and Scottish held out to win the national league one title and gain promotion to the championship with a 17-13 victory. Congratulations to London Scottish.

Everyone in the ground was stunned, after playing the better rugby and being the better side throughout Barking had somehow lost the match in the last minute. It was a heroic effort from all the Barking players and staff, and they can be so proud of the performance they put in. Coach Alex Codling said "Although it's devastating to lose like that the players have been fantastic all season and to go unbeaten but for two minutes of the season it is an oustanding achievement from the boys".

It was a sour end to such an amazing season for the Barking boys but they can be very proud of the courage and character they have showed throughout the season and try to bounce back next term.

We would like to wish Alex Codling and Kevin Sorrell all the best for the future as they will be departing the club.

Also a massive thank you to all of the supporters who turned up to support the team on saturday.