Bishop's Stortford ist XV 19 OEs 22

Click to read the program

This was always going to be a close match with both sides unbeaten in their first three games of the season. In a case of what might have been, it was OEs who came out the narrow winners.

Early pressure right from the kick of saw OEs go ahead 3-0 from a penalty. Playing into a stiff breeze that was coming straight down the pitch, Stortford took their time to get going and we had to wait until the fifteenth minute for them to launch what was their first really concerted attack, which resulted in centre, Sam Winter, going over in the corner from which scrum half, Tom Banks, landed a mighty conversion into the wind. Unfortunately, they kept the lead for less than 5 minutes when OEs applied pressure that took them into the Stortford 22 and they scored a somewhat controversial try when Sam Winter appeared to be obstructed from making a crucial tackle during the build up phases. The conversion moved OEs back into the lead at 10-7. Stortford responded well to this setback and within another 5 minutes regained the lead when Tom Banks made a strong burst into midfield and released his centres who worked the space extremely well, to release winger, Jimmy Rea, for a well worked try that Banks also converted, to move the score to 12-10. Stortford were now playing with renewed confidence and it seemed inevitable that they would score again, which they did, when a quick tap penalty was taken in midfield that released Johnny Neville who made a good break and moved the ball out to Jimmy Rea for him to score his second try of the match. Tom Banks could not quite make the conversion count and the game played out to half-time with Stortford deservedly leading 19-10.

Having had the better of the first half, Stortford appeared to go off the boil and the first quarter of the second half became more of an arm wrestle, which does not suit their style of play. OEs gradually began to turn the screw applying almost constant pressure through their backs. Stortford held them out bravely but, unusually, worrying holes were being punched through the normally solid middle of their defence. Eventually, the pressure told and after some 25 minutes of the half OEs scored, and a very good conversion from out wide narrowed the scoreline to 19-17. This clearly spurred OEs on and they continued to maintain the pressure on the Stortford defence until, with just about 5 minutes to go, Stortford managed to apply some pressure of their own that moved them deep into OE territory and earned them a penalty close to the posts that was eminently kickable. Surprisingly, the opportunity to take the points and create a 5 point cushion was rejected in favour of a 5 metre scrum. What followed was even more surprising when, with the ball at No 8, Rory Banks, feet and Stortford going for the pushover try, they were penalised for collapsing the scrum! Not only were OEs let off the hook, they were immediately on to the front foot and swept down the field from the ensuing penalty and scored the match winning try with just two minutes left on the clock.

Overall, OEs were worthy winners on the day having had by far the better game in the second half. Stortford will now have to pick themselves up for their trip to Canterbury next Saturday.

On a brighter note, the Blues pulled off a very good win against their OE opponents 22-17 and have a break in their League matches now until mid-October when they travel to Jersey.

Many thanks to Colin Tilley for producing this report, while I was otherwise occupied last night!