Stortford made an unusually fast start, urged on by their massed supporters and favourites, Ampthill didn't seem to know what had hit them, as wave upon wave of 15 man rugby was unleashed on them to a raucous chorus from the touchline. This lead to a series of 5 metre lineouts and, having won three, each time threatening the home line, it was, no surprise when, after 7 minutes the visitors were reduced to 14 men, when one of their forwards took out a player supporting Stortford's jumper, Jon George. who had taken yet another clean ball. Ampthill still managed to hold up a maul from a further lineout for a Stortford scrum, but were unable to prevent a try on 10 minutes, when two or three phases of quick handling from the set piece stretched their defence to breaking point and George Cullen took full advantage. Unfortunately, his conversion attempt, directly into the breeze flew narrowly wide. Stortford continued to enjoy the upper hand, as an under pressure Ampthill side conceded a number of penalties, but two errors at attacking lineouts gave the home side crucial ball. On the second occasion they exploited this ruthlessly, with some powerful, driving rugby to take them most of the length of the field through multiple phases to force their only try from open play after 21 minutes. The clinical conversion by Joe Tarrant gave them the morale-boosting lead, which heralded a complete turn around in the balance of play, with the home side, despite being under constant pressure at the set scrums, managing to dominate through their well- structured and powerful driving from lineout and open play. This produced two tries from driving mauls - the first from some 20 metres out - albeit from a seemingly harsh penalty awarded to them in their own half, when two Stortford players collided in what was deemed to have been a deliberate obstruction. These scores came after 29 and 36 minutes, the first capped by a first-class touchline conversion by Tarrant. though the second attempt, across the breeze proved too much for even his talents. This took the score at the break to 19-5.

Ampthill started the second half, as they finished the first, but Stortford held them out and slowly battled their way back into the game, despite an early injury to fullback, Cullen, whose running from deep had posed a repeated threat to the home side's very effective defensive system. The resultant reshuffle, with Jimmy Rea moving to fullback and Tom Whiteley replacing him on the wing, with Tom Banks now bringing his bristly presence to scrumhalf did not materially disrupt things and, indeed it was only a call from a touch judge after 10 minutes of the half, which deprived Rea of a try for a knock-on, as he plunged over the try line. The visitors continued to enjoy the better of the game, with Sam Winter, in particular, making repeated inroads and four minutes later found themselves with a man advantage yet again, after a second player was yellow-carded for a blatantly deliberate knock-on, as their line was, once again severely threatened. Not for the first time, though, their strong defence and physicality at the breakdown brought a turnover. There followed a period of midfield arm-wrestling, with Ampthill briefly threatening to put the game out of reach with another score, but Stortford, overall continuing to have an edge, which almost produced another try after 32 minutes, when Tom Coleman made a great beak close to the opposition line, but Nick Hankin wasn't quite able to pull in with his fingertips a slightly short pass that would have seen him clear to the line. Eventually, though, the visitors' hard work was rewarded when, after 35 minutes, Rea did get his try right out on the touchline, after the home defence was stretched beyond its considerable breaking point by great Stortford handling, swinging the ball first right then left across the width of the pitch. Tom Whiteley's conversion attempt across the breeze fell tantalisingly short, leaving Ampthill more than one score ahead. Stortford briefly gave their supporters further hope, as they continued to move the ball freely, but were unable to find another significant chink in the home defences. It was clear, nevertheless that the home players were relieved in the extreme to hear the final whistle to secure their place at Level 3 against 20 extremely determined opponents.

Well done, boys! Every single one of you did the Club proud today and you have given us all another great season's enjoyment. Rest assured, your renewed efforts come next season will not want for support. In the meantime, enjoy such close season as you and Longy allow yourselves!