STANFORD-LE-HOPE hosted newly formed Benfleet Vikings for the first time and after an exciting game, emerged 21-7 winners.

The hosts had a setback in the opening minutes when Jack Egar fractured his leg in a tackle, an injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Stanford were also under pressure from the Benfleet scrum, but they did manage to edge ahead when Calum Reid kicked a penalty after Vikings were penalised for a high tackle.

But the Vikings scrum was proving too hot to handle for Stanford and they powered over the try line for the first try of the game.

The conversion sailed through the posts too to give them a 7-3 lead.

Stanford soon hit back as Reece Anderson smashed his way through the Vikings to score Stanford’s first try, Reid added the extras.

Vikings were getting frustrated and on 32 minutes this boiled over and their number eight was sent off to cool down for 10 minutes.

Just before half time, Vikings were again caught off side. From the following penalty Stanford played the ball quickly and switched play back inside with Jared Gounden sprinting and stepping through the Vikings defence. The ball was then passed down the line to Ricky Damm who sprinted outside the remaining two defenders to close the first half 15 - 7 to Stanford.

After being restored to 15 men Vikings started to test the Stanford defence again and seemed destined to score when one of their players went clear and started celebrating...only for Matt Greenhill to deny him with a fine tap tackle.

Vikings conceded two more penalties, both for offside, which Reid converted to give them their 21-7 win.