Tunbridge Wells were crowned RFU Intermediate Cup champions after surviving a mini fight-back to defeat St Benedicts at Twickenham with a dominant performance.

First-half tries from Nicholas Doherty, Alex Maynard, and a Lee Campion brace as well as points from the boot of Hayden Pope helped them race to a 27-0 lead although Ryan Fisher’s converted try reduced that to 27-7.

Mike Hawley’s converted try saw that lead cut by a further seven points before tries from Tasi Fred Tila and Charles Spence as well as a couple of Pope conversions took the score to 41-14.

There was time for further scores from Charlie Harding who scored a try and a drop goal for 49-14 and Pope who converted his own try to take the final score to 56-14.

Tunbridge Wells had wing Campion yellow carded early on but despite being at a disadvantage they still crossed first with Doherty peeling off the back of a five-metre scrum and crashing over. Pope’s conversion made it 7-0.

7-0 soon became 12-0 with Maynard finishing off Campion’s break on the right wing. Campion then collected a delightful grubber kick to cross for Tunbridge’s third converted try inside the opening 30 minutes.

The winger went over for his second after some fine handling from Tunbridge to take the score to 24-0.

Pope kicked a penalty with five minutes of the half remaining but St Benedicts had the last say of the half with Fisher collecting a chip forward to cross while Rayson’s conversion took the score to 27-7 at the break.

Hawley showed decent pace and a sidestep to score in the corner straight after the break and Rayson’s conversion reduced the deficit to 27-14.

Guthrie Holliday then broke through St Benedicts’ defence to set up Tila and he went over for Tunbridge Wells’ fifth try which Pope converted.

Spence got his name on the scoresheet throwing a dummy and a step to dot down with Pope’s conversion taking the score to 41-14.

Steven Wood was sin binned for St Benedicts and Tunbridge Wells took advantage of that with Harding going over on the right wing after good power in midfield from his forwards to create space.

Harding also sent over a drop goal in the closing moments and Pope scored in the corner and converted his try to take the final score to 56-14.

“It didn’t start too well for me, the yellow card was disappointing and I was itching to get back on,” said Campion.

“To win here is just unbelievable, especially to do it in front of so many fans. To get a couple of tries was an extra bonus to finish a really special day.”