London Irish Amateurs 11 Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 40

Despite a number of enforced changes from last week's winning side, Stortford got off to a strong start, driving forward after the opening drop-out reception and forcing a penalty under the Irish posts for an offence at the breakdown. Tom Coleman kicked the goal for an early three-points lead. Fifteen minutes into the game, Stortford fielded an Irish 22 drop-out and a chip ahead, followed by a great tackle by fullback, Sam Winter on his opposite number, forced a loose ball on the home side's 22, which No 8, Mark McCraith pounced on and ran in for an opening, unconverted try. Three minutes later, Winter made another telling intervention with a good return kick from an Irish clearance and, when the home team offended at the resultant breakdown, Coleman stepped up to kick his econd penalty to widen the gap to 11 points. This was narrowed some 8 minutes later by a snap drop goal by Irish's flyhalf, Fee as his side made a rare incursion into the Stortford 22. It took only 2 minutes, though for the visitors to widen their lead once more, as Coleman made a decisive break through midfield and found centre, Wayne Child on his shoulder to force his way over for a try near the posts, which Coleman was able to convert. Fee, once again narrowed the gap with a penalty 32 minutes into the half after Stortford 7, Dave Aldam was deemed to have high-tackled a low-ducking scrumhalf. Coleman was soon able, however to register his third penalty kick, when home forwards failed to roll away after a tackle on their own 22. This took the score at halftome to 6-21.

Almost straight from the second half kick-off another great show and go by Coleman broke the line and, once again he found Wayne Child in close support to run the ball in for his second try from the 22, which Coleman converted. Irish fought back with the benefit of a helping wind and spent the next 25 minutes almost entirely in the visitors' half, but sound defence and some strong individual tackling prevented any score. In fact it was Stortford who next troubled the scorer, with their fourth, bonus point-winning try. This was registered by substitute second row, Tom McCraith (on 10 minutes earlier for Matt Tomlinson), who took the ball on, after a tremendous break by his brother off the back of a scrum, at which the Stortford pack had produced a strong drive. Coleman again converted. Irish swept back onto the attack and, eventually their hard work paid dividends, when livewire scrumhalf, Greene broke hard on the short side of a wheeled scrum to commit Stortford's winger before setting his own left wing, Piggot clear to touch down out wide after 75 minutes. Once again, though, Stortford were able to capitalise quickly on a rare second half attack. After Irish knocked on from the re-start, centre John Stocker made a great break through right midfield and was stopped only a few metres short of the home line. The ball was switched quickly to the left, creating a huge overlap, which Tom McCraith exploited for his second try. This took the final score to 11-40.

This was an impressive win built on strong defence and excellent support play whenever Stortford won the ball, enabling them to capitalise very efficiently on chances created. Irish will certainly have better days, but they were unfortunate to have caught Stortford on a day when despite a much-changed side themselves, things started to come together. They will nevertheless need to kick on again for next weeks visit by Westcliff.