Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 45 Tring 10

Stortford started the game in determined mood but, not surprisingly, met stiff resistance from a highly-motivated Tring side. It was 14 minutes, therefore, before the home side was able to register the first score of the game, when number 8, Mark McCraith touched down under the posts, following excellent interplay by his fellow forwards, after centres, Jonno Child and John Stocker had established position in the Tring 22. The routine conversion by skipper, Tom Coleman took the score to 7-0. Despite continuing to dominate possession, the home side allowed the visitors into the game by conceding territory via a number of penalties and eventually, after 17 minutes, Tring narrowed the gap by 3 points, when centre, Nathan Lambden successfully went for goal. It took only 3 minutes, though for the home side to re-establish its grip on the game through a try from winger, Jimmy Rea, who outpaced his opposite number from some 40 yards out to run round under the posts from a position created by good passes from flanker, Damien Sangster and Jonno Child. Coleman's conversion took the score to 14-3. Although Stortford continued to have the majority of possession, the visitors managed to disrupt and prevent any further score, until they finally succumbed to pressure and incurred a yellow card to hooker, Jonathan Morgan after a series of penalties close to their own line. From the resultant penalty, Coleman spurned the easy 3 points and, catching the opposition napping, chipped out wide to Rea, who caught the ball over the try line and touched down for his second try of the game. The flyhalf's conversion from close to touch took the halftime score to 21-3.

Although playing into the breeze in the second half, Stortford soon reasserted their authority, when centre, John Stocker ran in a try out wide, after pouncing on a ball spilled by the Tring midfield around halfway - clearly enjoying Stortford's "top of the ground" going to the rather heavier pitch at Tonbridge Juddians last week! Having secured yet another bonus point for their 4th try, the home side drove home their advantage with another try 7 minutes into the half, when prop, Richie McMillan rounded off a great driving maul, after second row, Matt Tomlinson had won good ball at a lineout in the Tring half. The conversion was again missed, but Coleman refound his kicking boots some 13 minutes later, when he converted yet another try scored by flanker, Maehe Austin, who forced his way over the line after another good Stortford lineout. The visitors' discipline now started to desert them, as fullback, Tom Newton was yellow-carded for a late tackle on home scrumhalf, Arran Mahoney after 26 minutes and Stortford soon drove the advantage home via a further try to winger, Nick Harris, set free under the posts after an excellent move, with Coleman looping around his inside centre to lob a short pass over a defender. Coleman's conversion took the score to 45-3. The game seemed to be over 10 minutes later, when Tring's winger, Liam Chennels was red-carded for an unprovoked punch on the home No 8 well away from play. The visitors, however, failed to see things that way and managed - despite some determined defending - to launch a series of forward drives at the Stortford line, finally producing a try for prop, Marlen Walker close to the posts. The conversion by flyhalf, Scott Browne pretty much concluded the game, with a final scoreline of 45-10.

This was another clear and well-deserved victory for a confident Stortford side and the margin might well have been wider with a little bit more of a clinical, cool-headed approach from a dominant team.

A resurgent Bracknell will present a tough challenge on their home territory next week and Stortford will need to be on their mettle again, if they are to further extend their impressive run of 12 league victories on the trot.