Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 3 Hertford 31

Stortford's horrendous injury problems showed no let-up this week - as highlighted by the need to select two wing forwards at wing threequarter. Fortunately, last week's fighting spirit was again in clear evidence, with stand-in wingers, Tom Stokely and Aaron Springham epitomising the never-say-die attitude. The home side belied their relatively lowly league position against leaders, Hertford and dominated possession for the first eight or nine minutes, going through phase after phase in the wet and muddy conditions without coughing up the ball. As a result they managed to force two kickable penalties but, unfortunately, without an established kicker in the side, could not convert either - even when a kicking tee had been found in time for the second one! Hertford fought back and, after 10 minutes earned their own penalty under the Stortford posts, but unwisely chose to kick for touch, failing to make possession from the resultant lineout count. The next 20 minutes saw Stortford again dominationg possession, but without really threatening to break the Hertford line. After half an hour, though the deadlock was broken when Stortford failed to deal well with one of a succession of speculative kicks from Hertford and failed to drop on a loose ball at the back of a ruck, allowing a Hertford forward to step through, pick up the ball and put centre, James Storey in for a try, converted by left wing, Mike Allen. Undaunted, Stortford battled back and were deprived of their own try only by a blatant offside interception by Allen. The resultant yellow card was scant consolation. The home side continued to press, however and eventually, after running through many more phases, forced a penalty for offside under the Hertford posts and this time, fullback, Jimmy Rea was able to secure the three points. This was the final act of the half, bringing the score at the break to 3-7.

Hertford started the second half, as Stortford had begun the first, retaining possession through a number of phases and camping in the home half. Unlike the home side, though, they quickly made this territorial advantage count, stealing a Stortford lineout close to the line and driving over for a converted try to prop, Robert Schillaci after 6 minutes. Stortford continued to fight bravely and 25 minutes into the half had another chance for three points under the posts, but Rea was unable to convert. Hertford quickly capitalised on this let-off, scoring another try on 30 minutes through hooker, Brett McNamee from a drive off a 5 metre lineout after Stortford were penalised for not releasing the ball from another speculative Hertford kick. As the home side seemed to be tiring from their outstanding efforts, Hertford upped their game and finally made their physical advantages in the forwards count as they registered three more tries after 74, 79 and 80 minutes, the first from a driving maul and the others from set scrums. The last was converted to take the final score to 3-31, which hardly reflected the balance of play across the game.

Choice of the Mercedes Man of the Match was again very difficult this week, with the the whole Stortford side playing their hearts out under very difficult circumstances, but the Coaches' choice of David Rose as standout player was received with universal acclaim by the large crowd, who had stayed behind in the clubhouse to watch the England-France game.