Rams 26 BIshop's Stortford 1st XV 10

Stortford failed to make early territory count, squandering opportunities from a freekick and a penalty on the opposition 22 and when, after 6 minutes they were penalised for a crooked push at a dominant scrum, they were made to pay the full price. Rams drove upfield from the resultant lineout and went through phase after phase inside the visitors' 22, forcing 4 or 5 penalties, the last bringing with it a yellow card for Toby Tierney. Another kick to touch and a solid lineout routine - something that, unfortunately eluded Stortford for much of the afternoon - saw the home side in for a try, converted by Fraser Honey. Stortford fought back and Chris Bolton made huge inroads into the home defence. It looked as if he might have had the pace to have run in for a try, but chose to pass to the wing and the danger was snuffed out - albeit at the cost of a yellow card to Rams 7, Vince Everitt for preventing a quick tap at a subsequent red-zone penalty. Stortford were still struggling to win lineout ball, but defensively continued to shine, holding out a number of drives from 5 metre lineouts. Eventually, it was a Stortford handling error in midfield, which led to their line being breached, as the home side seized the opportunity to stretch the defence through a couple of quick breakdown balls, which allowed Rams to find an uncharacteristically loose tackle to burst through for an easy try for Jak Rossiter after 33 minutes. The home side finished very much on the front foot, but more sterling defence from the visitors sent them into the break only 12 points behind.

Stortford enjoyed some early attacking possession after the restart, but their problems in winning attacking lineouts persisted and eventually they settled for three points from the boot of Bolton. A yellow card to Ollie Jones for a dangerous clear out after18 minutes proved significant, with the home side shortly after producing a clinical backs' try, switching the ball quickly to and fro to stretch the defence, allowing a smart dummy and dart in the centre to get in behind and two quick passes to the instant support gave the cover defence no chance. Honey converted, as he did 6 minutes later after another mix-up in Stortford's midfield allowed replacement scrumhalf, Ollie Cole to steal the ball and dash 80 yards untouched. Stortford showed their customary fighting spirit - and their great fitness levels, after so much hard defensive work - to fight back and, when they were able to string together a few phases of play, quick hands down the line provided the opportunity for Will Rogers to burst up the middle and find fellow backrow, Jones in support to dash in under the posts. Connor Lloyd added the 2 points with a drop kick. The game ended with the visitors again successfully defending their line for their lives against a number of powerful Rams' drives.