Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 21 Plymouth Albion 24

In stark contrast to the way they had finished last week's game at Blackheath, Stortford started slowly and seemed incapable during the first half of holding onto the ball for more than a couple of passes. As a result, Plymouth dominated possession and territory and, but for some solid, backs-to-the-wall defence from the home side, would surely have been out of sight before the break. Having said that, the visitors were far from clinical themselves, failing to capitalise on a number of red-zone lineouts, depending instead on their ability to hold onto the ball for phase after phase to wear down Stortford's defence. The home side was able to survive a couple of sieges of their line and took advantage of a rare incursion into opposition territory to take the lead on 9 minutes through a Dan Cole penalty for a breakdown offence. Plymouth were soon back on the front foot, though and, after Toby Tierney had been yellow-carded for one of a number of team penalties close to their own line, the visitors finally broke through, with a try to prop, Ramaz Rukhadze after quarter of an hour, converted by Tom Putt. The fullback also added the extras 12 minutes later, after further concerted pressure brought a try for centre, Archie Hill. The deficit was reduced to 8 points only 4 minutes later, when Cole kicked another penalty for a cynical breakdown offence close to Plymouth's line, which might well have received greater punishment.

Stortford started the second period even more sloppily than the first, missing a number of tackles, as the visitors ran out the restart kick. But for a final forward pass, this would have brought an immediate try and only a couple of minutes later an arguably even better chance was butchered on Plymouth's opposite wing, as a potentially try-making short pass was thrown into touch. For once, Stortford were on their toes at this point and a quick lineout throw and some smart inter-passing saw Josh Stannard combine with fellow wing, Chris Smith to run some 70 metres upfield for the latter to touch down for an unconverted try with only 3 minutes of the half gone. This potentially 14-point swing did not faze the visitors, who bounced straight back and all but scored a try under the posts, but were penalised for a second movement in going for the touchdown. Plymouth continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges, but it was Stortford that registered the next score, when Tierney took a well-timed short pass in midfield to burst through for a try, converted by Cole with almost an hour gone. The home side continued, however, to be generous hosts and, compounded the concession of a soft penalty at a breakdown on halfway with a badly-missed tackle some 3 or phases from the resultant lineout, allowing Plymouth's number 8 to crash over for a try. Putt's conversion stretched the visitors' lead to 3 points, but this lasted only 3 minutes, when Cole levelled things with a long penalty that scraped over the bar, when Plymouth were penalised at a breakdown. The visitors surged forward again and, although they were unable to capitalise on a penalty for a high tackle, Stortford couldn't clear their lines and more attacking pressure forced a penalty right under Stortford's posts for not releasing at a ruck, as they tried to drive their way out of their 22. Putt took the three points and, effectively the win, as Stortford's frantic efforts in the final 3 minutes to scramble a final score came to nothing.

Our thanks go to today's Matchday Sponsors, Nockolds and to Man of the Match sponsor, GRS Group. Their award this week went to Ryan Jackson for his non-stop performance across the 80 minutes.