Playing into the wind on a drizzly, dank day, Stortford started well, monopolising early possession and steadily gaining ground through some good handling and a couple of successful tactical kicks from George Cullen. Having thus controlled the first 6 minutes of the game, with the backs in particular looking to have regained some confidence and posing threats across the park, all the previous good work was unfortunately undone in a split second, when the threat from a turnover to Coventry was not snuffed out at source. Instead, a visiting player was able to brush aside two ineffectual attempted tackles and then drew the last defender to give his winger, Max Trimble a clear run to the line. Will Maisey converted, but the home side was far from phased and launched again onto the attack. In defence too, though the visitors showed their vast experience and were content, under pressure, to concede a penalty in front of their posts, which George Cullen converted on 16 minutes. Coventry slowly worked their way into the game and, when Stortford made a hash of their own lineout on the 22, they seized on the opportunity and quick hands and some straight running left their other winger another clear run to the line for an unconverted try out wide on 23 minutes. The visitors' tails were now well and truly up and a pinpoint crossfield kick from Maisey only 3 minutes later found fullback, James Stokes unmarked for another easy try, again unconverted. Scenting blood, Coventry launched further attacks and good handling took them towards the Stortford 22, where one of their backs was perhaps lucky to be allowed to regain his feet and keep the attack moving, although he looked as if he had been held in the tackle. Needing no second invitation, the clinical Coventry backs quickly stretched the home defence to give Trimble another stroll in to the line on 35 minutes. Maisey converted well to take his side into halftime 21 points ahead.

With the wind at their backs, Stortford dominated possession and territory for the 3rd quarter of the game but without really threatening the Coventry line. Eventually, the visitors won a penalty and a kick to touch, followed by a couple more penalties, which gave them a lineout on the Stortford 5 metre line. Stortford defended manfully two driving mauls, but the well-organised Coventry pack were not to be denied and forced their way over the line for a try to second row, Nile Dacres after 64 minutes. Maisey drove home this telling blow with an excellent conversion from out wide. Stortford were undaunted, though and fought their way into the Coventry 22, where they launched a number of forward drives at the visitors' line, only to be frustrated by the shrill whistle of the referee for a breakdown offence. Coventry were quick to capitalise, making a clever and decisive break down the touchline from a ruck out wide and, aided by a lucky bounce from a chip ahead were rewarded with an unconverted try to replacement, Scott Tolmie with 10 minutes left to play. Stortford again showed their battling qualities, forcing the visitors back onto their heels and, when a Coventry player was carded after a series of penalties at breakdowns, they took full advantage to score a consolation try right at the death, when Matt Tomlinson was driven over by the rest of his pack from a good lineout. Matt Riddington converted, as time ran out to narrow the losing margin to 26 points - probably a fair reflection of the gulf between the professionalism of the two sides on the day.