TRIES FOR STORTFORD PLAYERS...FOR BOTH TEAMS!

With only twelve available players, but keen to have a competitive match, SWRFC started with three enthusiastic BSRFC players, Monty Wicks, Sonny Williamson and Sam Wishon pulling on green shirts for the kick off. Blues captain, George Cox (playing against his old team and many school mates) was keen to make a strong start and after a great early run from full back Jacob Chambers, the vocal scrum-half was able to feed the ball from the ruck into the hands of Zico who charged over to score the first try.

Two minutes later and another barnstorming run from Zico gave him another score. Saffron Walden responded positively, their No8 (nominated player of the match for SWRFC) making a strong run. But Stortford were working well as a unit and four tries in quick succession from Luca C, Ayo, Ben P and Zico with three successful conversion from the boot of Luke F saw the lead stretched out to 36-5.

After completing his hat-trick for BSRFC, Zico was gifted to SWRFC as a replacement for an injured player and he looked keen to have a go at running at his own team mates - and he didn't have to wait long. Sandwiched between Stortford tries for Luke F and a second for Ben P, Zico showed that he was not going to hold back and he put himself on the Saffron Walden scoresheet with a characteristic charge over the line to bring the first half to an end at 48-10.

Half time changes saw Sam W and Monty W back in blue with Thomas M and Tom N trying on green. SWRFC scored the first try of the second half, but then Luca C scored his second try, Luke F adding the extra two points before Monty was finally able to get the service he needed out to the wing and used his pace to get himself on the scoreboard. Luca C then received a yellow card for a high tackle during a period of pressure from the opposition as they attacked down the left wing and once again Zico was able to make a space to score his second try for the opposition which they then successfully converted. With only a couple of minutes to play Dillon L was able to dart and weave through gaps in the SWRFC defense to score and with only fifty seconds left the referee called Luca back on having served his time in the sin-bin. Luca wasted no time and as Dylan S drove for the line only to be held up he was able to pick the ball up from the base of the ruck and drive over to complete his hat-trick of tries dutifully converted by Ben P, making the final score 72-22.

A brilliant attitude displayed by all players today, great to see our boys having no qualms about donning opposition shirts and giving 100% for both teams. Unsurprisingly, SWRFC nominated star player for Stortford was Zico. Thanks for all of the support from the touchline but a special mention has to go to Sam W's gran having travelled all the way from the USA to see him play and she got to see him play for two teams in one game, we all hope you enjoyed the typical British weather we supplied and a proper sport with no helmets and body armour in sight.

Richard