Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 22 Canterbury 27

Stortford came flying out of the traps at the start of the game and played some excellent, fast, open rugby, which was met by stern defence from the visitors. Flyhalf, Marcus Cattell kicked a penalty for a 3-0 lead after 14 minutes, when the visitors were penalised for the second time at breakdowns under concerted pressure from the home side. Stortford continued to dominate, going through phase after phase of skilful, attacking rugby, which finally told with excellent tries to winger, Jonno Child and hooker, Sam James after 19 and 24 minutes, following some great team rugby, in which Nick Hankin and Joss Linney, respectively figured prominently. Cattell converted the second to take the home side 15-0 up. The balance of play now swung slightly in Canterbury’s favour and their physical game led to territorial advantage but, in the face of determined Stortford defence the visitors eventually settled for a penalty, converted after 29 minutes by centre, Tom Best. Stortford continued to defend well, with Hugh Michell particularly prominent and they did not look like conceding a try to the Canterbury offence, physical and remorseless as it was. It therefore took a dreadful Stortford error in the shape of a long pass, falling behind the outside backs to present Best with a clear run into the line after 38 minutes for a converted try. This took the halftime score to 15-10, which not only severely flattered the visitors, but also sent them into the break with momentum clearly in their favour.

Canterbury predictably started the second half with renewed determination and, although playing a limited game, based on forward strength and excellent ball protectio, exerted a stranglehold on most of the second half. This brought unconverted tries after 45 minutes to No 6, Brook Cowan from a driving maul and Best after 67 minutes, following an impressive period of strong, driving rugby from the whole side. In between, Stortford’s scrumhalf, Arran Mahoney had scored a third try on 57 minutes after a brief return to the sweeping handling of the first half, culminating in some excellent driving play by the pack. Cattell converted to leave the score 22-20 after 67 minutes. Stortford were now showing signs of wilting under the concerted pressure from Canterbury and, crucially failed to take advantage of two turnovers to wrestle back control of the game. In each instance the ball was handed back all too easily and, on the second occasion, Canterbury enjoyed a huge amount of luck to exploit the opportunity to the full. Firstly they benefited from a hugely favourable bounce of the initial kick back of a poor Stortford crosskick, followed by an even more lucky flyhack by the chasing winger, which skewed into midfield and sat up under the Stortford posts for Best, having outpaced Stortford’s midfield defenders, to gather the kindly bouncing ball and flop over the line for his third try and his team’s bonus point-winning fourth. The try scorer’s conversion completed the scoring and left the home side on the wrong end of a result that could easily have gone their way, although a draw might have been a fair reflection of the fluctuating fortunes in a very hard fought contest.