Ongar left fuming by late ref blunder

ONGAR were left seething after being denied a win by a controversial refereeing decision.

The away side held a slender 19-21 lead at the death, when Brightlingsea were awarded a penalty try.

The kicker put his attempt wide which sparked Ongar celebrations. But a spectator went onto the pitch protesting to the referee that the ball was not dead.

In the confusion a home winger played on and touched down with the final action of the match to seize victory.

The game started with Ongar dominating, but unable to convert their possession into points and Brightlingsea scored two tries in quick succession to make it 12-0, following one conversion.

After this the visitors woke up and Steve Everson went over for a try. Ongar had another try through John Berry to make it 12-10 at the break.

The Love Lane men had the wind with them in the second half and soon took the lead with Pete Hovell slotting a penalty to make it 12-13.

Brightlingsea then scored a converted try to go 19-13 ahead.

But Ongar's dominant pack soon proved too much for Brightlingsea as prop Ian Fish scored a try in the corner.

Hovell then slotted a penalty with five minutes to go to once again put Ongar in the lead at 19-21.

Then came the penalty try incident that transformed the complexion of the game.

Furious Ongar skipper Dave Blake said: "One of the first things you are told in rugby is that you have to play until you hear the whistle.

"Apparently now you have to play after it as well and this defeat has been very hard to accept."