The day got off to a very serious start with both the First XV and the Blues and their opponents from Loughborough and Barnes, joined by several dozen Mini players and the large crowd, observing a minute's silence in memory of Lee Scott , one of our U10s' Coaches who had tragically died a few days earlier. It was especially touching that the Swifts interrupted their football match on the adjoining pitch to show their respects too and our thanks go to the football club for that heart warming show of solidarity.

With Stortford playmaker, Tom Coleman injured in the warm up, the home side was forced into immediate changes and, confronted by a hard-tackling and hard-running opposition found it hard to dictate the pace of the game, as they would have wished. The disruptive visitors, therefore were able to play the kind of fast, loose rugby at which they excel and, having repelled a period of early Stortford pressure, took the lead after 14 minutes through a Tim Bitirim penalty for a breakdown offence. There followed a period of disjointed play, with both sides making repeated handling errors, but the visitors eventually managed to string a few phases of their typically fast flowing rugby together, culminating in prop, Andrew Boye stepping through a loose first tackle to burst over for a try close to the posts, duly converted by Bitirim for a 10 point lead after 24 minutes. Stortford responded immediately and quick handling allowed Joss Linney just enough room to force his way through his opposite number's tackle to touch down out wide or an unconverted try on 27 minutes. Loughborough, though quickly stretched their lead by 3 points through another Bitirim penalty, after Tom Banks was rather harshly penalised for failing to release the ball, when he clearly thought that a tackle had not been completed. What was still pretty much of a harum scarum affair produced a second try for Stortford on 33 minutes, when Jimmy Rea made a half break down the left wing and threw a hail Mary pass over his outside shoulder, which fell into the arms of supporting flanker, Dan Elsom, who dashed over for a try, converted by George Cullen to narrow the margin to one point. This was soon back to eight, though when, after 38 minutes the visitors' No 6 took advantage of some sloppy Stortford defending at a Loughborough scrum close to their own 22 to burst away untouched, make some 30 metres, before drawing the last defender and setting winger, Will Brown free to run in a try, giving Bitirim an easy conversion. With time in the first period running out, Stortford launched an immediate attack, after a great, clean take by Jon George of the restart kick and, having got close to the opposition line, this time the forwards decided to take matters in their own hands, mounting drive after drive around the fringes to eventually allow Seb Brownhill to touch the ball down against the foot of a post protector. This gave Cullen an easy two points to bring the half to an end with what was probably a slightly flattering one point deficit for the home side.

Stortford started the second period much more decisively and, showing more control than they had in the first period, had their bonus point try on the board within a minute. A turnover from the dropout put the home side on the front foot and good interplay between George Keen and Dan Elsom saw the centre dashing in for a try, converted by Cullen. Within 4 minutes another 7 points had been added, when Linney scored his second try after James Apperley had made good initial ground from another Loughborough turnover and Cullen added the extras. Both Keen and Cullen were soon lost to injuries, requiring a complete reorganisation of the home back line, but it seemed to make little difference, with Tom Banks operating assuredly at 10, as Connor Mak returned at 9 to display his talents both in defence and attack. Stortford, nevertheless had to survive a period of intense pressure on their own line and the pack showed their collective commitment by holding out close drive after drive, eventually, after many phases forcing Loughborough to try and move the ball wide, where the ball was knocked on. The visitors refused to give in, though and, playing to the referee's call swept through on a ball at the back of a Stortford ruck in their own 22 to create a turnover and quickly move the ball to the opposite wing, where Bitirim took the outside line for an unconverted try on 54 minutes. The home side was back in complete control, though within 11 minutes, having scored 3 further tries. The first went to debutant replacement hooker, Sam Crean, taking a short pass from Jon George, who had broken a tackle to burst up the middle, after Sam Winter and Rob Duff had combined well to make progress down the right. Replacement fullback, Tom Walker kicked the conversion. After 62 minutes, Elsom got his second try at the back of a dominant scrum drive, after Loughborough had been perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty try for a knock-on of what was surely a scoring inside pass, after Linney had been caught just short of the line, following a tremendous clean break by Apperley. The conversion attempt went just wide, as it did again three minutes later, when Rob Duff finally got onto the scoreboard after a tremendous chase of a Sam Winter high kick to tackle the elusive Bitirim and then find his feet to snipe over from the base of the resultant ruck. The scoring was rounded off after 75 minutes, when Jimmy Rea burst away from a ruck some 20 metres out to score a try, which Walker was able to convert.

The Palmer and Martin Man of the Match award went jointly to Jon George and Dan Elsom, whom the judges were unable to split for their 80 minute efforts al over the park.

Next week sees us renew rivalries at Chinnor, an encounter for which, whatever inroads into our squad the serious crop of injuries might have, the team will have no difficulty in raising their game! COYB!