Match Preview

Bishop's Stortford 1st XV vs Barnstaple

Order game images from ANDY TODD - PHOTOGRAPHY

---

This week we welcome Barnstaple to Silver Leys. The Devonians, newly promoted this season struggled at the start to make the step-up to level 4 and still find themselves in the relegation zone. As the season has gone on, however, their performances seem to have improved markedly and it may be no coincidence that recent selections have shown a number of changes from the side we faced down there in October. Their latest results have produced 4 narrow losses in a row, with a total points deficit over the 4 of only 17 points. This suggests a side that will battle to the end and a first half at home to Chinnor 3 weeks ago that saw them turn round 15-14 ahead shows what they can do. They are likely to be strong up front and Stortford will need the same cutting edge they showed so well in the first half last week at Clifton, if they are to subdue them.