Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 20 Tunbridge Juddians 35

Stortford started the game where they'd left off at Staines last week and, with a little more composure might have capitalised on at least one of the early chances created by their early aggression. Unfortunately, the first score went to the visitors, when their fly half touched down under the posts after their then dominant pack first turned over a Stortford defensive scrum then forced a penalty at the re-set, opted for another scrum and drove Stortford back to create a great platform which they exploited ruthlessly. The conversion was kicked by centre and skipper, Richie Nauar. Tonbridge continued to build on their forward dominance and first converted a penalty for a lineout defence after 15 minutes and then five minutes later scored their econd try from a textbook driving maul off a 5 metre lineout, after a penalty against Stortford for a breakdown offence. The conversion was missed. The home side were reduced to 14 mwen after half an hour, when prop, Will Freeston was yellow-carded for dissent. From the resultant penalty, the visitors won another 5 metre lineout, which they again exploited ruthlessly and this time were able to convert the forwards' try. With the first half running out, Stortford mounted a determined attack and after Stortford's centre, Jonno Child was deliberatley held back off the ball by the visitors' 7, the resultant scuffle between the two brought a straight red card for both, each having been deemed to have thrown punches. This resulted, somehow, in a Stortford scrum 5 metres from the Tonbridge line and suddenly the previously struggling Stortford pack, now enlivened by the arrival of new prop, James Zhao took advantage of the 7 man visiting pack to drive them back for skipper, Mark McCraith to plunge over the line for his 4th try of the season. Fly half, Sam Coleman narrowly missed the conversion to see half-time arrive with a 5-22 scoreline.

Boosted by the score late in the first half, the home side started the second period with even more aggression and it took a last ditch tackle on Stortford's man of the match, fullback, Sam Winter, after a decisive break by Wayne Child to prevent a try after 3 minutes. The visitors, though, proceeded to make a hash of the resultant 5 metre lineout and Stortford's hooker, Scott Romaine gathered the loose throw over the back and drove over for his first try for the Club. Coleman converted to narrow the lead to 10 points. Stortford almost visibly gained confidence from this score and a particulary forceful run by flanker, Maehe Austin forced a first penalty and when the visitors were forced to collapse a maul from the resultant lineout, their no. 3 was yellow-carded. Tonbridge's front row substitute was declared to be unfit to prop, so a period of unopposed scrums ensued. Stortford nevertheless, retained the upper hand, but it took 8 minutes for them to put points on the board with a penalty from Coleman after a high tackle on rejuvenated Stortford centre, Nick Harris. This score was cancelled out after only 5 minutes, when Nauar kicked a penalty for offside to restore the 10 point lead. The next score also went the visitors' way when, after 28 minutes they brushed through two weak Stortford tackles for an unconverted try, after the home side had failed to capitalise on a characteristically mazy run from James Rae - on as substitute for winger, Ashley Boyle. Undaunted, however, the home side drove back onto the front foot and it was again, skipper McCraith who dashed over the visitors' line from 20 metres out for an unconverted try after 30 minutes of the half. Stortford dominated the next 9 minutes and this pressure eventually brought a yellow card for Tonbridge's front row substitute for a cynical offence at the breakdown - by no means the first of the half. Sticking with their aggressive approach, Stortford spurned the chance to go for goal from under the posts to bring them within a bonus-point winning 6 points but, unfortunately turned over the ball from the 5 metre line out. Undaunted, the home side forced their way back onto the attack but, when a midfield move went drastically wrong, the Tonbridge fullback seized on the loose ball to run in for a match-clinching try from 70 metres. This took the final scoreline to 20-35, which rather flattered the visitors, although their forward dominance of most of the first half and a constantly threatening back line well lead by Nauar, probably gave them a slight edge overall.

Next week brings an away game at high-flying Tring but, If Stortford can ally a similar level of confidence and aggression to today's with a little more composure at critical moments, we can look forward to a very competetive game.