Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 31 Exmouth 7

Stortford came flying out of the traps at the start of the game and played fast, open rugby, which seemed to catch Exmouth off balance. Despite twice turning the ball over, possession was on each occasion quickly regained by the home side and after 4 minutes they opened the scoring with a try to flanker, Hugh Michell, finishing off some excellent team play, in which Ross Bird, Jono Child and Richard Gill figured prominently. Flyhalf, Marcus Cattel made no mistake with the conversion. Stortford continued to play at high pace, to which the visitors appeared to have no answer. Two further tries followed for the home side, both going to hooker, Sam James, controlling the ball at the back of two tremendous driving mauls off 5 metre lineouts and Cattell was able to convert both after 15 and 26 minutes. In between, the flyhalf added a penalty goal after 23 minutes, shortly after which, Exmouth centre, Ali Hill was yellow carded after a series of team offences at breakdowns. Stortford registered their 4th, bonus point-winning try after 30 minutes, when fullback, Nick Hankin outpaced the final defender to run in behind the posts after a tremendous, tackle- busting burst up the middle by centre, Sam Winter. Cattell made no mistake with the conversionto take his side out to a 31-0 lead. Exmouth, to their considerable credit, did not give up under the Stortford onslaught and came back with their own try on the stroke of halftime to second row, Chris Bentley again off a 5 metre lineout. The conversion was duly kicked by fullback, Robert Avery-Wright to take the halftime score to 31-7.

Remarkably, after such a free-scoring first period the second half was scoreless. The visitors came out with a clear game plan to play to their forward strength and seemed also to up the intensity of every aspect of their game, so that Stortford were never able to get their running game going again. As a result, the home side had to withstand extended periods of heavy pressure on their own line and, to their great credit dug in and defended their line doggedly. This was despite being reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes, following a yellow card to James 15 minutes into the half, for a breakdown offence on the Stortford line.

The combination of some outstanding first-half attacking rugby with colossal commitment to defence in the second period made this the best overall team performance of the season so far. The whole team reflected the same kind of commitment shown by Tom Banks, travelling down from Newcastle for the secnd week in a row and Rory Young, once again making the trek back from Warsaw. Well done to the whole squad in achieving a very welcome second successive win for Stortford, which moves them well up the still very close league table. No reason whatsoever, after this performance to feel remotely daunted by next week's trip down to fortress Dings Crusaders!