London Division 2 North-West: Fullerians 7 UCS Old Boys 13

UCS Old Boys came from behind to win a pivotal relegation clash at basement boys Fullerians on Saturday.

UCS started the day just one point above the relegation zone – and three above Fullerians – but a crucial victory took them five points clear of danger.

Mark Forth’s penalty kick was the only score of the first half as the Old Boys took a 3-0 lead into the interval, but they found themselves 7-3 down in the 55th minute as Fullerians took a quick tap penalty and scored against the run of play.

Defeat would have been disastrous for UCS, but they rallied and Boyde crossed the line in the 65th minute, with Forth adding the conversion to put the visitors 10-7 up.

Fullerians’ full-back then intercepted the ball and raced over the halfway line, but Garath Jones sprinted back to make a try-saving tackle – and Forth kicked a 45-metre penalty as UCS held on to win.

The Old Boys have a game in hand on the teams around them and, with four matches left to play, a victory away at sixth-placed HAC on Saturday could secure survival.

UCS’s director of rugby, Geoff Boxer, said: “This may be a defining moment in our season. With only 15 minutes left we were staring at a defeat which could well have meant relegation – but a steely performance in the last quarter saw us home.”

In London Division Three North-West, Haringey Rhinos went down 19-17 at home against Finchley.