PEGASUS’ four-match unbeaten run in Essex One was ended in controversial fashion at Millwall.

Pegs played nearly 40 minutes of the match with just 14 men after receiving three yellow cards and one red in a game that was never dirty.

Millwall started brightly and were 5-0 up inside the first five minutes. Then the controversy began as Pegasus received their first yellow card when Sean Stanford was sent to the sin-bin, despite the referee admitting it was an error soon afterwards to captain Jason Collier.

Next to receive his marching orders was flanker Greg Bramwell for wearing a scrum cap. The referee had already accused two wearers of scrum caps before settling to sin-bin Bramwell for his choice in headwear.

However Pegasus plugged away despite being reduced in numbers and scored two brilliant tries from Neil Brown and Dan Collier, both converted by Collier for a 17-10 lead.

Millwall’s numerical advantage did begin to show, however, and Pegasus conceded a try that only a third official in their TV studio would have been able to see, with their lead cut to 17-15.

Millwall now quite rightly sensed a punched-out Pegasus were on the ropes and had lost their heads as yet another refereeing decision went against them. Pegasus were then reduced to 13 with a red card for Chris Countryman for retaliation and, from the resulting penalty kick and drive from line out, Millwall won the game crashing over in the corner with literally the last play of the game.

This gave Pegasus a losing bonus point rather than the victory they were seconds away from.