Cinderford 0 Bishop's Stortford First XV 11

Stortford battle back from last week's setback at home to Caldy to produce a performance full of character and determination, to beat a powerful Cinderford side, coming off a stirring draw against the odds last week against table-topping Blackheath and who struggle to remember when they were last "nilled" at home. The visitors started confidently and, with Tom Coleman back at the helm, played impressive, controlled rugby in the first half, when they were facing a stiff breeze, blowing straight down the pitch. They kept possession for extended periods, thus keeping Cinderford's strong pack out of striking range of their line, apart from occasional incursions off a couple of excellent tactical kicks. On these occasions, though it took some colossal last ditch defending by Stortford to keep the driving opposition forwards at bay, as they mounted assault after assault. More than one home supporter told us afterwards that no other side this season has contained this threat as well as Stortford did today. By and large, Stortford had kicked judiciously but, ironically it was from a slightly over-kicked box kick that the breakthrough score came, when Cinderford tried to run the ball back, but were smartly turned over near half way. The ball went quickly to Rob Duff on the right wing, who he put a tumbling kick down to the home line and followed up to catch the covering home threequarter in possession and drive him back over his own line. Not content with this ,though, the winger bounced to his feet and stripped the defender of the ball, before he could touch it down for a 5 metre scrum and instead was able to dot it down for a real opportunist try. Tom Banks' conversion effort from the touchline flew wide of the target. Stortford tails were now up and went straight back onto the attack courtesy of a great leaping catch by Duff from another Banks box kick. Although Cinderford were able to repel the danger, the visitors confidently saw out the first half with a valuable 5point lead at the break. Unfortunately, this came at a price, with Sam James being added to the Club's long injured list, after suffering a painful knee injury during the first quarter, though Sam Crean proved an able deputy.

Stortford again started strongly and only two penalties awarded against them on the home line prevented further scores - the first for holding on at a tackle and the second for a double movement, as Banks touched the ball down. The scrumhalf was soon able to add to the scoreline, though, when, after 5 minutes, the home skipper was penalised for foul play, resulting in a penalty originally in Cinderford's favour being reversed - and a yellow card for the player. Banks stepped up and slotted the difficult shot at goal from some 40 metres out. This further blow seemed to fire up the home side, who produced some threatening running from deep but, once again, Stortford's aggressive and determined defence held firm and a pinpoint kick for touch from Tom Coleman after 25 minutes eventually put his side into the Cinderford red zone. It was now the home side's turn to show their defensive capabilities and they did hold out a number of threatening thrusts from Stortford forwards and backs, but eventually conceded a penalty for offside, presenting Banks with a much easier 3 points to take the lead out to 11 points. Cinderford thundered forward again and, as their pack started to gain a slight upper hand in both the scrum and open play, Stortford were forced to concede a number of penalties, from which their defensive mettle was, once again tested to the full. Once more, though, the whole team rose to the occasion, hurling themselves into tackle after tackle to frustrate the home side and pressure was, eventually relieved, after many phases of play, when James Apperley took an excellent lineout steal. Cheered on by the 20 or 30 travelling supporters lucky enough to have made the trip down to the west country, Stortford managed to see out the final few minutes for a tremendous victory - all the more memorable for the run of results out of which this performance, full of character and guts had emerged.