Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 28 Bournemouth 33

Bournemouth scrumhalf, Hardcastle was quick to seize on an early home mistake to kick ahead and outpace a flat-footed defence to touch down after 5 minutes, providing an easy conversion for flyhalf, George Drake. The home side fought back and a good back’s try, rounded off by winger, Jono Child and Tom Coleman’s conversion levelled the scores. A penalty try to the home side for an offence as they drove a 5 metre scrum towards the B’mouth line seemed to put them in control after 29 minutes, but a number of chances were squandered, as Stortford dominated both territory and possession for the rest of the half without further score. Try-scoring chances were passed up, as were two relatively easy penalty shots at goal. Halftime score 14-7.

The home side started the second period also well on top but, with almost their first possession of the half, Bournemouth scored an unconverted try after 13 minutes with a breakaway try, after Stortford coughed up soft ball on the visitors’ 22. A yellow card to a Bournemouth forward close to their line on 22 minutes was exploited to the full when Stortford first opted for a scrum, rather than a penalty and drove the opposition back over their line for a try to No 8, Mark Mccraith and then followed up only 3 minutes later when centre, Sam Winter crashed over after a great run by substitute winger, Wayne Child direct from the drop-out. Coleman’s conversions of both took his side out to a 28-12 lead. The visitors now showed tremendous fighting spirit and proceeded to dominate the rest of the game. Initially, perhaps, they capitalised on Stortford overconfidence, but ended up much the stronger side, scoring two long-range tries from winger, Wyn Roberts, with one from lock, Jack Hennings from close quarters sandwiched between. Drake converted the first two to take the final score to a well-deserved win for Bournemouth, 28-33.