There's a lot to be said for the "least said, soonest mended" adage, when it comes to disappointments, so ready yourselves for one of the shortest match reports on record!

Doubtless buoyed up by their good win last week at home to Taunton, Canterbury came out all guns blazing and Stortford failed to even get started for 30 minutes. Under the circumstances, a 0-12 deficit at that stage was a remarkable achievement. While the visitors went comfortably through phase after phase, pulling the home defence from side to side and threatening to break through across the pitch, the home side could barely put two passes together. It was down only to some dogged last-ditch defence, therefore that Stortford managed to restrict Canterbury to two tries - one a very well-worked effort, building on good ground made down their left wing to move the ball quickly right and score a comfortable try near the corner post; the second down entirely to sloppy Stortford handling, with the ball ripped loose, as the home side tried to run out of their own half and the ball falling nicely for winger, Ricky Mackintosh to pick up and canter in unopposed for his second try. after 20 minutes. Finally, with 30 minutes on the clock, Stortford managed to run through s few phases and strong running by Nick Hankin and Sam Winter saw the latter force his way over for a try in the corner, despite the attentions of 3 defenders.

5-12 at the break hardly reflected Canterbury's superiority over the half and it looked for a while as if they might come to rue their failure to get more points on the board, when a much rejigged home side started the second period in dominant mood. Sean Edward's arrival in the front row and Tom McCrone's move to loose head suddenly saw set scrums being dominated by Stortford and the whole side seemed for a while to find new energy. This resulted in a deserved try to Matt Tomlinson - only just on as a second row substitute - crashing over from a driving maul, following one of a series of surging home scrums. George Cullen's conversion from in front leveled the scores and for the nest 10 minutes or so his side continued to have the upper hand. Unfortunately, though, the team steadily reverted to first half type - coughing up soft turnovers, giving away penalties and handling poorly to invite the opposition back into the game. Canterbury needed no second asking and the winning try was deservedly scored after 67 minutes by man of the match, Charlie Harding, given an easy run-in by Mackintosh, after the winger had easily rounded his opposite number and committed fullback Winter. Tom Best's second conversion of the game took the final score to 12-19.

One of the visiting supporters described Canterbury's performance as the best of their season and Stortford still managed to gain a losing bonus point, having put in undoubtedly their worst effort of the season. Perhaps fortunately, they will have a chance next week, away to third-placed Taunton to prove that this was just a collective "bad day at the office" and that they can again play good rugby, even under heavy opposition pressure - which can certainly be expected!