Extra A 52 v Belsize Park 17

The Extra A welcomed Belsize Park 2s to Silver Leys on Saturday, a team who were promoted alongside us as league champions last year after an impressive season, recording a points difference of around +700!

Conditions were again perfect with the sun shining and the ground firm beneath our feet. Stortford kicked off and immediately asserted pressure defensively on the Belsize runners; some big hits going in early from flankers Conor Mahoney and Rory Banks. As our opponents tried to run from deep within their own half, the ball was eventually turned over and, after several strong carries close to the breakdown, quick ball was recycled to Steve 'Tank' Green who finished well in the corner, Sperm adding the difficult conversion. It should be noted that in the absence of Stig, Tank had this week made the switch from hard running, crash ball 12, to lightning quick, skilful 15 (his words). It was another 10 minutes before the next score, which again went the way of Stortford; veterans Slade and Diddy Byatt making a nuisance of themselves at the breakdown eventually led to a penalty which was kicked to the corner and, after some more direct carries in the midfield from centres Keyes and Tindall, the ball was released by Sam Read (on for the injured Alex Walsh at 9) to Sperm who exploited a stretched Belsize defence to find a gap and score close to the posts for another 7 pointer. Belsize came back at us from the re-start and pinned us back in our own half for a while, but the Blue defence, headed up by the super aggressive John Carter, stood firm.

The blitzing Belsize defence put considerable pressure on each Stortford attack, but did leave them exposed behind; the next try exploited this frailty, as Sperm kicked across the field behind the flat winger, allowing Ben Stapleton to race past and fall on the ball in the corner, Sperm once again adding a difficult conversion. Belsize park then had another period of pressure and, after stretching the Stortford defence from left to right, they put the ball through the hands and scored a good converted try of their own. The remainder of the half consisted of Sperm launching the ball into the right hand corner and the blue pack really making it difficult for Belsize to win their own ball and exit their 22. It was a matter of time before a mistake was forced, and it came in the form of a loose kick from the opposing fly half straight down the throat of Ben Stapleton. Ben fed the ball to Tank who danced his way past 3 defenders and lifted it brilliantly back to Ben on the inside to go unopposed under the posts for a great converted try. Stortford dominated the final 5 minutes of play with tireless breakdown work from our whole pack (including superstar hooker Dean Boyle *applaud*) and were rewarded with a penalty in the opposing 22; captain Slade this time threw the ball to Sperm who duly added the simple 3 points for a commanding 31-7 halftime lead. Anyone would think we were playing with our heads.

The blues started the second half brightly; Sam Read bossing the game from 9 and Rob Jones or Rosey replaced the ever impressive Diddy Byatt in the pack. It wasn't long before we registered our next score, Tank carrying the ball down the blind side and releasing Stapleton once again who finished strongly to complete his hat trick. Belsize Park fought back and scored their second of the day after a neat blind side move from the back of a scrum close to the Stortford line. As players tired the game opened up somewhat, which suited us perfectly; after an initial break by winger Tiarnin Kelly and a purposeful run from Alex Tindall, the ball found Slade in space and he (eventually) passed to Alex 'Slayer' Wilson who crashed over under the posts in typical Slayer style. Belsize hit back again with another try after some defensive mistakes and ill discipline from Stortford within their own 22. It was Stortford though who had the last laugh, another neat piece of interplay from Tank and Stapleton led to the latter rounding 4 defenders (some unnecessarily) to score his fourth try of the day.

This was by far our best performance of the year, and, although the scoreline looks like this was an easy day, Belsize Park were worthy opponents who made us work for every score. They were a good bunch of lads too. Honorable mentions/runners up for MoM award included Mahoney and Banks who were everywhere in defence, Slade who had a commanding game in the row, T on the wing who, at the grand age of 17 shied away from nothing in his first full senior match, and Tank who ran riot and created several of our tries. The man of the match award however went to John Carter, who played the best match I've ever seen him play, defending aggressively and carrying with real purpose. D*ck of the day, rather ironically, went to Ben Stapleton for showing off with his 4 tries. I have since remembered that he dropped a high ball in Walsh-esque style, as well. He is also APPALLING at downing a pint.

We have a well deserved break next week, before springing back into action with a trip to Hackney.