Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 38 Staines 8

The visitors started the game strongly and almost totally deprived Stortford of any ball for the first 6 minutes of the game. A second penalty conceded by the home side under this concerted pressure brought an opening penalty to the Staines winger, Lewis Pruce and a 0-3 scoreline. Stortford's first clean possession was, however, clinically exploited, as the ball was moved first right then left as both backs and forwards combined to put Hamish Irving over for an excellent try, off a short pass from fellow second row, Matt Tomlinson. Skipper, Tom Coleman slotted a relatively easy conversion, but any hope home supporters might have cherished of Stortford running away with the game were quashed, as one promising move after another faltered through a combination of crucial passes going astray and penalties conceded. Staines seized on these mistakes to exert lots of pressure on the home defence, but strong tackling by the home team meant that the next score, after 31 minutes again went their way. This took the shape of a try by John Stocker, as Coleman ruthlessly exploited a heel against the head on a Staines scrum to switch the ball inside to his centre, who shimmied his way past two defenders to touch down. Coleman's conversion attempt went narrowly wide and no further score was achieved before half time, leaving the score at the break, 12-3.

Stortford started the second half in determined fashion, as a clever short dropout by Coleman was won by Stocker, which put the home side on the attack. One scrum later and dummy runs by both centres were crucial, as Coleman missed them both to find his fullback bursting into space to touch down almost untouched under the posts. The flyhalf made no mistake with the conversion. The home side now seemed to take control of the game and a further try 18 minutes into the half threatened to demoralise the visitors, as winger, Jimmy Rea picked up a difficult bounce of a chip ahead by Winter to dive over out wide. Although the conversion was missed, it took only a further two minutes for No 8, Mark McCraith to score his side's fifth try, crashing over from close quarters off a short pass from scrumhalf, Tom Banks, after a great lineout steal by Tomlinson, set up by a long touchfind by Stocker. This and the resultant conversion might have been expected to have knocked any remaining wind out of Staines' sail, but the visitors showed great spirit in forcing their way back onto the attack, with their extremely elusive back three posing considerable threats. These were all repelled, however, by Stortford's committed defence and it was they that, in fact registered the next score, with right wing, Nick Harris running round the last defender to touch down under the posts after 39 minutes. This followed a midfield turnover, which allowed substitute flanker, Damien Sangster (on some 20 minutes earlier for Dave Aldam) to put Stocker into space, which the centre exploited clinically to give his winger room out wide. It was the resilient visitors, however, who had the last say, as they took advantage of two late penalties conceded by Stortford to establish position on the home line and finally give sufficient room for their giant second row, Nsa Harrison to crash over for a consolation try. Unfortunatley for the visitors - and Stortford's Chairman, who had predicted a 38-10 scoreline in the pre-match sweep for a £750 prize(!) - the relatively easy conversion was missed to leave the final score to 38-8.

This tenth league win in a row sends the Stortford team to second-placed Juddians next week in good heart, but they will be under no illusions that the side that won well at Stortford in October - albeit against a much weakened side (!)- will offer other than very tough opposition. A tremendous contest in prospect.