Dorking 23 Bishop's Stortford 1sts 22

The warm welcome from Dorking to the travelling Stortford supporters was I understand normal and if that is the normal fare for the pre-match lunch I can understand why there are so many people there - fantastic food and very hospitable hosts.

The early kick off was an inspired decision as this supporter was a tad concerned that the game might finish in darkness as it wasn't that bright at 2pm - Box Hill which overlooks the 'Big Field' was shrouded in mist/mizzle before, during and long after the game had finished!

Having said that the Stortford boys tore into Dorking from the off and after an incisive break from Aaron Mahoney after only three minutes the ball was spread wide and Jonno Child touched down in the corner - TC only just missing the conversion from out wide. 5 - 0. Dorking slowly but surely started to grind themselves into the game and after making some ground an infringement by a Stortford player presented them with a shot at goal, which was duly dispatched 5-3. A period of nip and tuck followed with Dorking making good ground and again a misdemeanor by a Stortford player gave Dorking the opportunity to take the lead after TC had missed a penalty down their end - unfortunately they didn't miss: 6-5 Dorking. This seemed to put a little more wind in the sails of Dorking and after 25 mins, a parting of the Stortford defence enabled the hosts to register their first try, making it 11 - 5, the conversion being missed. Referee tyhought the ball had been held up, but the assistant called the try ! There followed a period of play that at best could be described as stalemate rugby but on 35 minutes a clever grubber kick from TC saw Harry Marner cross the line to make it 11 -10 - unfortunately the difficult conversion was missed. Half time 11 -10 in Dorking's favour.

The second half started much as the first half finished but after 6 minutes the Dorking number 6 transgressed again and this time the referee decided that 10 minutes in the bin was a suitable punishment. Stortford kicked for the corner and after a number of attempts at a catch and drive Dorking managed to get hands to the ball in the line out and the opportunity for Stortford to capitalise on the extra man was lost. Stortford began to ring the changes on 50 minutes with Mahoney and Cattell being replaced by Banks and Neville - good to see Jonny back after the Worthing 'incident'. Stortford again conceded a penalty in kicking distance but conditions for kicking were not ideal and the score remained at 11-10. Dorking continued to apply the pressure and, despite a great last ditch tackle from Nick Hankin, good ball retention by the hosts saw them crashing over the line to make it 16-10, the conversion once again going wide.

At the restart the ball was gathered by the Dorking lock and poor tackling saw the hosts drive down to the corner and a clever grubber kick was collected by Hankin but his momentum took him over the try line resulting in a 5 yard scrum to the hosts. What looked to be a training ground move saw the hosts' scrum half darting over in the corner to make it 21-10 and the following conversion from the touchline put even more distance between the teams. 23 -10.

This seemed to galvanise the Stortford team and after a series of driving carries and a rolling maul from a lineout the ball was spread out wide and this time Hankin's momentum in the tackle carried him over the line at the right end to score: 23 - 15 - conversion missed. Stortford continued to apply the pressure and a strong run by Steve Ball saw the ball being shipped out and Jonny Neville powered over in the corner for the bonus point try. TC duly slotted the conversion despite slipping in his run up taking the score to 23-22.

Unfortunately time ran out for Stortford and who knows what might have happened, had the game gone on for a further 5 minutes, but coming away from the team second in the table with 2 bonus points was no mean feat. This performance and the Blues' 27-12 victory over Dorking Twos bode well for next week when we will be welcoming Chinnor to Silver Leys.

Many thanks to Bryan Hankin for stepping into the breach again and writing today's match report.