Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 22 Southend 15

The first half was littered with errors on both sides, but Southend managed to capitalise rather better on their chances, with their backs well marshalled by outside centre, Mike Stanley , who created both his sides tries with searing breaks, finished off respectively after 17 and 18 minutes by centre, Chris Vaughan and flanker, David Jackson. These, plus a penalty on the verge of halftime by fullback, Alex Harrison gave the visitors a 15-7 lead after Stortford had got off to a flying start, with a try to second row Jon George after a maul was driven some 12 metres over the line, following a patient build-up that took his side virtually the length of the field from the opening kick-off. Flyhalf, Olly Walker made no mistake with the conversion.

Stortford came flying out of the blocks in the second half and substitute Arran Mahoney made an instant impact by partially charging down a Southend kick, which was swooped on by his fullback, Nick Hankin, who burst through the defensive line and found his scrumhalf looping round to touch down out wide after only 2 minutes. Mahoney struck again 15 minutes into the half, seizing quickly on a loose ball at a ruck and plunging over for a second try, following a good passage of sweeping rugby, that had taken the ball from one wing to the other and back again. Home nerves were now jangling with only a two point lead and 25 minutes to go, but a level of calm was finally restored with only 5 minutes of the game remaining, when No 8/second row, Mark McCraith crowned another storming overall performance with a try, plunging down the short side of a ruck close to the Southend line for the bonus point winning try.

A collective sigh of relief was heaved by the large home crowd, which included many former players back at Stortford for an annual lunch.