Hartpury College 37 Bishop's Stortford 13

Stortford got off to a storming start, having much the better of the first quarter of an hour. This early pressure produced three points for the visitors after 6 minutes via a penalty from fullback, Joe Clarke for a breakdown offence by the home team. Unfortunately, the lead was shortlived, with the home fullback, Billy Burns levelling the scores with his own penalty conversion three minutes later, when Stortford were caught offside at a ruck. Hartpury now came increasingly into the game, taking full advantage of a number of turnovers by their strong forwards, repeatedly holding up Stortford runners and preventing them from going to ground. Seventeen minutes into the game and a harsh penalty against Clarke for a deemed deliberate knock-on in the process of making a head-on tackle produced an attacking position, from which Hartpury’s well-drilled backs skilfully manufactured the first try of the game for their right winger. An impressive conversion by Burns took the scoreline to 10-3. Stortford’s defence now came under increased pressure and, despite repelling two five metre scrums had to concede a third score after 28 minutes, when another turnover created a further attacking opportunity, which the strong home centres ruthlessly exploited for another converted try. Hartpury were now very much on top and scored another good team try through their 7 out wide after 32 minutes. The conversion this time proved beyond Burns’ considerable capabilities. Unfortunately from the point of view of the battling Stortford defence, in injury time, the strong Hartpury backs registered their bonus point fourth try, running from their own 22 to set up three or four phases, from which their right winger again touched down out wide for another unconverted try. This took the halftime score to 27-3.

Stortford started the second half as they did the first – in the ascendancy – and were rewarded after 7 minutes with an opportunist try to prop, Sean Edwards, who seized on a loose ball from a botched home 5 metre lineout to plunge over for a try. The conversion attempt, unfortunately went narrowly wide. The visitors gained further reward for their concerted pressure when, after 11 minutes the Hartpury No 5 was yellow carded for a series of team offences at breakdowns. Five minutes later and the home side were down to 13 players when substitute back, No 22 was carded for failing to release a tackled Stortford player. The visitors were quick to take advantage, when Sam Winter scored a great individual try after an initial break by fellow centre, Marcus Cattell. The conversion again went wide to leave the score at 27-13. Stortford continued to enjoy the better of the game, without really threatening another score until, after 32 minutes, they were penalised for handling in a ruck and Hartpury demonstrated their loss of the initiative by opting for another three points from the boot of Burns. This obviously settled any remaining nerves, however and, when they were awarded another penalty in a similar position 3 minutes later, they went for touch. Stortford now found it difficult to escape from their own 22 into the wind and eventually, despite some good handling in the now very wet conditions, they lost the ball at the back of one of their own rucks - a situation not helped by the absence of scrumhalf, Sam Whiffen lying injured further upfield - and one quick pass to one of the home side's impressive centres saw him dance over under the posts. The conversion took the final score to 37-13, which meant that Stortford had drawn the second half, despite playing into the strong wind.

Overall, this game provided considerable grounds for optimism for the Stortford team, as demonstrated in their comeback in the second half, which clearly showed that the side, even without skipper, Tom Coleman can compete at this new, higher level.