Close physical game belied by the score line to league leaders.

Match report February 9th 2013
Bishops Stortford 4s 0: Hemel Hempsted 25.
After last weeks loss to Enfield, we welcomed table topping Hemel Hempsted to Silver Leys with a strong team saved by several 5th players and Sam Leung stepping in and playing No.3 as the shortage of props through the club continued to bite.
After a 40 point loss playing away to Hemel, we were keen to start strongly, yet somehow reverted to our old habits of allowing an early try against us through some slack defensive lines, their player sneaking through after a few minutes.
Following this, the game became a much more competitive event than the previous one, our forwards slightly more than a match for their pack. Unfortunately one thing that Hemel did more consistently was to not get sucked in and have players outside – this creating 3 of their next 4 tries with men overlapping outside.
In the meantime there were many positive points to our game. Our forwards consistently played a strong rucking game, stopped the Hemel mauls, and after a poor start in the line out gradually became more and more dominant. Scrums, possibly due to our lighter weight props struggled although after about 50 minutes scrums became uncontested evening any issues up in this department.
The backs ran strong lines making very large dents in Hemels line, and were superb in defence with no line breaks against us I can remember, unfortunately not including running around our line due to greater player numbers.
A statistician would have been useful for this game, to see the percentages of territory and possession. The first half more or less even, and our advantage to both in the second half. At one point in the second half we spent over 10 minutes in their 22. The problem was however losing composure, and silly mistakes which allowed Hemel to create the overlaps when we lost our ball… Hemels final try was extremely fortuitous, their wing attempting to chip John Doolan who blocked the ball but bouncing immediately into the kickers arm who looked as surprised as anyone but had the sense to keep running albeit with a very large slice of luck.
What this game did show is that we had players who are more than capable of playing the league leaders and winning. Man for man in the pack we played better, and I would not swap one of our backs for theirs either. Unfortunately, as in the previous game with Hemel, a greater structure to their play keeping men out wider was essentially the difference. They clearly train properly together, and it showed. Walking off at the end, whilst clearly the losing team, did feel like it was a game we should have won, and that all our players had played with commitment and effort until the final whistle that I was proud to lead on and off the pitch.
Man of the match was Andy Simpson, the 5s no.8, who did a superb job getting round the field hitting countless rucks, mauls and taking the ball in very often. Honourable mentions go to John Doolan for countless try saving actions, Cam Stockdale and Liam Grimes for tackling and running well, Aaron and Rob Neil and whilst it pains me to admit it, Brownie had an excellent game too, (possibly inspired by the ref assuming he was a prop before the game began.) Young George had an excellent starting game on the right wing, as did big Toby, who I’m sure when he plays prop will excel even more than this week.
Dick of the (match) Day this time goes to Aaron. Whilst also an honourable mention, Aaron despite being a main jumper in the line virtually every game this season, managed to forget the calls twice in a row. However what sealed this was Aaron volunteering for this special position for the second time this season. Would be rude not to oblige him. Ciders ( I presume) are on him next week.
As a final note, please make an effort to get to training on Thursdays if possible. I know we are all busy but the chance to practice lineouts, mauls, rucks and running lines is invaluable and will make the difference between walking off knowing you have lost for a week, or walking off with a great big grin for a week.