Stortford started strongly and early pressure produced a penalty under the posts for a breakdown offence, which Tom Banks converted for a 3 point lead after 4 minutes. It took only 6 minutes for the scores to be leveled, when the home side took full advantage of a brief counter-attack to win a penalty under the Stortford posts for failing to release at the tackle. Within 2 minutes, though, Stortford had stretched out to a 7 point lead, when a scrum was won straight from the restart and Sam Winter ran a great line to take a short pass from Tom Coleman to burst through the first line of defence and then round the fullback to touch down close to the posts, giving Banks an easy conversion. Another penalty goal to the scrumhalf 4 minutes later stretched the lead to ten points, but this was cancelled out after 29 minutes, when Stortford were penalised for a breakdown offence under their own posts. It took only 2 minutes, though for Stortford to score their second try, when Will Simmonds touched down after Nick Hankin had made a tremendous break through midfield and then offloaded cleverly to Banks, who could almost certainly have scored himself but, unselfishly put his fullback clear. The conversion attempt flew wide, but Banks was more successful 6 minutes later, when he converted a penalty, after Bury had been penalised for holding on, as they tried to run the ball out of defence. 6-21 at halftime.

Having controlled much of the first half, Stortford were noticeably less clinical at the start of the second period and, having won the ball from the restart almost immediately coughed the ball up and, within 2 minutes of the restart had conceded 3 points after they were deemed to have gone offside at a ruck under their own posts. They were guilty on a number of other occasions of trying to force openings too quickly but, despite conceding a number of turnovers as a result, still managed to score the next tr after 17 minutes. This was scored by replacement fullback, Pier Dotta, who was on the end of quick hands down the backline, after the forwards had driven a lineout maul some 20 yards, allowing him to dummy a pass to Jimmy Rea on the wing, before crashing through the last tackler close to the touchline. Banks's great conversion took his side out to a 19 point lead. The scrumhalf turned try scorer some 6 minutes later., when he drove over from the base of a ruck, after another tremendous drive by his pack had been held up just short of the line. His conversion attempt went just wide to leave the scoreline at 9-33. Bury, who had continued to battle hard in what was now, clearly a losing cause were rewarded 4 minutes later with a try of their own, when they kicked to touch a penalty for offside shortly after the restart and set up a driving maul from the lineout, which the visitors were unable to halt.The successful conversion took the score to 16-33, but Stortford were able to see the remaining 12 minutes out reasonably comfortably.

Afterwards, Coach, Andy Long was pleased with the way that his team had executed the game plan and clearly delighted that Henley's draw at Chinnor had taken us clear at the top of the league.

As the Firsts and Blues (who also had a good win at Bury) and a handful of remaining 5th teamers let their strict fitness regimes slip a little (!) with carols and some well-orchestrated drinking games under MC, Marcus Cattell back at the Club, the cameraderie that provides such a solid basis for the whole Club's playing successes was clear to see. Job half done, but a great way to enter the New Year!