Match report 4th Team vs The Mount

We visited The Mount on Saturday with largely a team made of players who met 20 minutes before the game having never played together. We were going to have to have uncontested scrums all game but thanks to Alan Stobbs moving from his more traditional home of flanker to taking up the props roll, we had a full strength side made up of 17 fiercely competitive players.
The game got off to a disappointing start with the Mount scoring early on in the corner when their fast winger sped through a gap on our blindside and went under the posts to take them 7 points up. We soon hit back though when Stortford were awarded a penalty. The quick thinking of Sam Stockley saw Tom Roach in plenty of space on the wing, and James Lipscombe duly found him with a kick that fortuitously bounced straight into the arms of Roach who crashed over the line.
The mount hit back 10 minutes later thanks to their outstanding centre whose pace and power caused real problems for Stortford’s three quarters all day. He took the ball just outside his 22 and sped through a gap in the line rounded the full back and was in under the posts. This made the score 5 – 14. The game ebbed and flowed for the rest of the first half with Stortford enjoying the better of the territory which gave them the platform for their next try. The forwards picked and drove brilliantly for 15-20 minutes putting them in touching distance of the mount try line. The ball was then spun out to the right crucially sucking in the mount defence and with quick ball Sam Stockley exposed the space in the fringes and smashed his way over the line. He converted his own try and the half time whistle blew shortly after with the game evenly poised at 12-14.
During the first 5 minutes of the second half Stortford blew their opposition away thanks to some determined forward play and scintillating handling and pace from the backs. The forwards exerted some real pressure and were awarded a scrum 5 meters from the Mount try line. A number 8 pick up by the outstanding Andy Simpson, a maul and strong drive saw Peter Richardson crash over the line for a well deserved try that their dominance deserved. The Mount soon hit back however with their full back kicking a ball over the top, the ball bounced horribly for the Stortford defence and straight into the hands of the on rushing full back for him to score off of his own kick. The ensuing conversion was missed to take the score 17-19.The Mount then scored in quick session again thanks to their outside centre who found space in the middle of the park brushed off a tackle and used his astonishing pace to burst through a gap. A try soon followed for Stortford however with them once again exerting territorial pressure to see some fine handling in the backs with Tom Roache using his strength to brush off one defender and side step another to see him finishing off a great move. The score was now 22-24 with 10 minutes to go. Unfortunately for Stortford The Mount went over again when a penalty was awarded to them 5 meters from the Stortford try line. Quick ball was given to their number 8 who bashed his way over. This took them 9 points ahead with 5 minutes to go. Stortford had the opportunity to go within one score in the dying minutes but alas it was not forthcoming.
With a scratch side the team performed with heart and dogged determination and everybody who played should walk with their heads held high in what was a fantastic team performance.
Man of the Match was Andy Simpson for some outstanding work at number 8.
Wally of the day went to Molly snr who from a restart caught the ball ran to the blindside away from his support and proceeded to then pass the ball into touch. Whoops!!
A great team effort by all!