Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 15 Blackheath 16

Both sides showed early ambition in this match, sponsored by Harlow Agricultural Merchants (HAM), but the visitors scored the first points after 8 minutes, when the referee gave a penalty for Stortford not releasing instantly at a tackle after flanker, Harry Bate latched onto the ball. Joe Tarrant notched the three points. Blackheath gained confidence from the score and produced some threatening running and handling from their backs, with Henry Staff eventually capitalising, running a good angle to take a short pass from his flyhalf off quick ruck ball and touching down under the posts on 13 minutes. Tarrant converted. Stortford battled their way back, forcing a number of errors from the opposition and came close to scoring a try from some good handling by the threequarters, after Nick Hankin made an excellent run up the middle from a loose Blackheath kick. The final pass, though just failed to go to hand. The home side kept up the pressure and were rewarded with penalty goals for Tom Banks after 17, 24, 30 and 35 minutes, with the visitors apparently determined to avoid conceding tries at any cost. Tarrant responded with his own second three pointer on 19 minutes to take his side into the break with a one point lead.

In the second half, both sides were able to apply considerable pressure in the opposition 22s, with nothing to choose between the sides despite the gulf in their league positions. It was two penalties conceded in quick succession by Blackheath, though, that produced the first scoring opportunity only a few minutes after the break. Unfortunately for the home side, Banks' effort from the tee flew narrowly wide of the posts. The defences on both sides maintained the upper hand, with neither team really looking like scoring a try. The breakthrough came after 69 minutes, when a period of sustained pressure brought another penalty to Stortford, allowing Banks to take his side into the lead for the first time, when his kick went over off an upright. Tarrant quickly replied in kind, though, when the referee stopped play with 62 minutes gone for an injury to Sam Winter and then - not for the first time - awarded a penalty at the restart scrum. Stortford threw themselves onto the attack and looked threatening, as their backs went from side to side, but could not break through. This time, the Blackheath defence maintained its discipline and avoided giving Banks any further opportunity from the tee, managing to hold out to the final whistle, which their players greeted with huge relief.

The Tees Man of the Match award went to Tom Banks, who backed up his strong goal kicking with another fighting display at scrumhalf.