Playing up the slight slope and into the breeze, Stortford started well and took advantage of a couple of caldy handling errors to launh an incisive attack. The ball was first moved left, where winger, Chris Smith was able to make good ground and, when he was stopped, the ball was moved quickly to the right, where Johnny Neville was able to crash through the stretched defence for an unconverted try after only 3 minutes. Both sides, however found it difficult to establish any clear rhythm, as the referee was reluctant to allow opportunities for advantage to accrue, producing a long period of stop-start rugby. The next score went to the home side from a penalty under the posts after 12 minutes and another 3 points were added in like fashion 16 minutes later to take Caldy into a 1 point lead. This proved to be short-lived, though when, 4 minutes later, sam Winter took a short pass in midfield, just inside the Caldy half to break the first tackle and then use the abundant support outside to dummy his way over the line for a try, which was well converted from out wide by George Cullen. Caldy battled back, though, snuffing out a threatening Stortford attack down the right to win a penalty and drive their way into the visitors' 22, where they launched a series of powerful drives at the try line. Showing great collective determination, Stortford held outstrongly and, whan a Caldy drive was held up, Tom McCrone ripped the ball free for a crucial turnover to see his side into the break 12-6 up.

Stortford again started the second period strongly and were rewarded with a penalty goal kicked by Cullen from under the posts after 6 minutes. The home side, though flew straight back onto the attack and brought themselves within 2 points, when their no. 9 sold a dummy to a couple of Stortford defenders inside their own 22 to dash over for a well-converted try. The lead was extended 4 minutes later with another Cullen penalty goal and the medicine was repeated a further 5 minutes afterwards, when Caldy were penalised at a scrum. The probably decisive score, though came after 35 minutes of the half, when yet another penalty out wide was kicked to touch. Although the resultant lineout drive was halted well by the home side, a secondary thrust by Sean Edwards put the defence on the back foot and quick ball down the line was enough to give Jimmy Rea a clear run in for a try, brilliantly converted from the touchline by Cullen. A Stortford handling error from the restart, though put Caldy onto the front foot and it was their turn to win a penalty, which in their case, had to go to touch. Stortford were equally successful in halting the immediate driving maul but, at the expense of a scrum. Although seemingly under pressure, the home side were allowed to reset the scrum, at which they were awarded a penalty under the Stortford posts. In a throwback to former years, the penalty was tapped and what looked suspiciously like a flying wedge was set up, which Stortford were unable to prevent being driven over the line and a try was awarded. Surprisingly, the conversion was missed but, undaunted, Caldy flew back onto the attack and, benefiting from a harsh penalty award for a supposed late tackle, they once again went through the lineout, scrum, penalty sequence to launch another flying wedge at the Stortford line. This time, though the defence was ready and the drive was halted, with the final whistle going after the visitors had won a scrum.

This was a tremendous display of committed, team rugby by the whole Stortford squad, providing an appropriately upbeat end to a tremendous first season at level 3. It was particularly good to see Dan Leo back to his rampaging best of earlier in the season, which hopefully augurs well for his return next season! It is to be hoped that he will be joined there by younger stalwarts like Steve Ball, Matt Tomlinson and Jimmy Rea - not to mention "super-sub", Tom Coleman!

And now to Allianz Park, where the Blues tomorrow look to retain the Herts.Presidents' Cup against Fullerians. COYB!!