BP Chemicals 24pts

The Merovingians had an entertaining encounter against BP where the visitors grabbed a late score to share the spoils.

It was a well contested game with the Meros making a great start as debutant Mike Stacey powered upfield from the kick off and Richard Bijster blasted over. They continued to flourish and Martin Scott sliced through in the centre for Justin Brozenitz to convert.

BP came back with a try before the interval but the Meros struck again early in the second half when replacement Kenny Strangeway galloped 70 yards down the wing to score.

BP had a big, powerful pack and they used it to great effect to level the scores through two close range tap penalties.

The Meros thought they had won it as Dan Elvidge was held up over the line, then Stacey burst over on the scissors, Brosenitz converting. But despite determined efforts to hold out the Meros were pegged back in the final minute as BP grabbed a converted try at the death to leave it all square.