Stortford 4's (5) vs Weston (55)

After some discussion over clashing shirts the referee settled on Stortford wearing red and Mark Sullivan got us going into the breeze.

Weston gained and retained the ball well and after 6 or 7 mins of possession their backs unlocked our defence with some slick hands and a little switch pass that put them through under the posts.

This really set the pattern for the next 20 mins with the Weston 9 and 10 controlling things and either chipping the ball over the top or making yards with some great support play.

Stortford were 3 tries down with 25 mins played. It would have been easy for heads to drop at this stage but, as usual this season, the 4's dug deep and the forwards started to come into the game more winning the ball at the breakdown and controlling the rucks and mauls.

Weston were penalised a number of times for going off their feet at the breakdown and we worked our way into their 22. Stortford came close to the Weston line and Mark Brown uncharacteristically managed to goad the Weston hooker into throwing a half hearted punch and Stortford were awarded yet another penalty. Andy Simpson took the ball quickly and bundled over for a try with 3 Weston defenders hanging off of him.

Stortford continued to boss things for the remaining few minutes of the half and we went into the break feeling as though we were back on the game.

Weston started the second half strongly and their backs really started to assert themselves with strong running, deft chips over the top and great running.

As Stortford tired they hit us with a number of sucker punches each of them resulting in tries. On one occasion Mark Sullivan took a quick penalty and ended up inches from the Weston line. Mark was judged to be holding on to the ball by the referee and whilst Stortford were regrouping the Weston 10 took a quick tap and spread the ball wide for the winger to run the length of the pitch.

Despite the mounting score Stortford kept battling though to the end with some big tackles from Graham Pearman, Kev Harman, Allen Griffiths, Andy Simpson and Mark Brown and great spirit shown by all.

Dick of the day was Mark Sullivan who had a tough time in the first half culminating in him attempting a quick tap from a penalty and, in dropping the ball onto his foot, he fumbled it, failed to engage his foot and effectively threw the ball 2 metres in front of him giving Weston a scrum.

Man of the match was a close call with Andy Simpson having a great performance at 8 but it was ultimately awarded to Mark Brown, fresh back from chilling out in St Lucia, for controlling our forwards, making some very big tackles and for being so narly he was offered out for a fight mid-match by a Weston supporter!

Next week we host Hemel Hempstead 3's at home. Let's get as many people as we can to training this week and get back to winning ways!