Extra A 7 v Old Haberdashers 2s 48

The Extra A traveled to Old Haberdashers on the weekend to play their final away game of 2015; a trip that would prove to be one to forget. Our problems started long before Saturday, a lack of availability throughout the club meant that we traveled with a bare 15 players, including a number of non-regular Extra A players. Many thanks especially to these guys (Graz, Diddy, Spence & Tom Brady) for making the trip with us and giving it 100%. We were also informed on Friday that our opponents would be going uncontested

The strong wind and slope were both in Stortford's favour for the first half as our hosts kicked off. It took around 10 minutes for Habs to score their first try, some poor first up tackling allowed their powerful 8 to run clear from 30 yards out. This was unfortunately a theme that would run the full course of the game; the Blues far too often going high on big ball carriers. When we did have the ball, we often found ourselves rushing things and kicking too loosely to a well drilled side. Matters worsened somewhat when James Copper was yellow carded for a high tackle on a Habs winger. The only real bright light for Stortford was centre Aran Martinson, who was as ferocious in defence as he was each time he carried the ball. Discipline was the next thing to crumble for the Blues and, after an extremely high penalty count and some quick ball for Old Habs, they added a further three converted scores in the first 40.

The second half was always going to be a struggle at 28-0 down playing into the wind. The Blues kicked off and we managed to retain some ball and foray into the opposing 22 in the first few minutes. However a quick turnover for Habs allowed them to clear the ball a long way. Stig dog was solid at the back and showed a tremendous amount of heart in every tackle he made. Habs added two more tries and a penalty by the time we were at the 60 minute mark. It must be said that the penalty for what seemed to a massive, perfectly legal hit from Aran was harsh, but it just wasn't our day. We did have 5 minutes of pressure, within which we made our only real contribution to the match; after linebreaks from Sperm and Tiarnan, and some very busy ball carrying from Moore and Harrison, the ball found its way to Martinson on the right who powered over for 5 points. Unfortunately we couldn't replicate this passage of play, and after another score for Habs, the game ended.

A disappointing day to say the least, but life goes on and you can't win them all. D**k of the day and MoM were both very clear cut. High hit Copper got yellow carded to leave us a man down in the fist half to earn his DoD pint, and there's no prizes for guessing who was MoM; Aran was the one of the only positives on an otherwise very bad day for the Extra A.

Big challenge next week as we host league leading Ampthill in our last game before the Christmas break. Hopefully a few more players will emerge for this one at home!