Rosslyn Park 48 Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 22

Stortford started strongly and were rewarded with a Dan Cole penalty goal after only 3 minutes. they enjoyed slightly the better of the exchanges over the next 15 minutes but a long break for an injury to a home prop seemed to galvanise Park, who scored their first try almost immediately, through right wing, Charlie Walker, whose Premiership pedigree stood out clearly throughout. Within 7 minutes, Benjie Marfo on the opposite wing added another try, rounding off a move built on turnover ball from one of a number of Stortford lineout mishaps. With Stortford kicking away too much ball, the home side were now well on top. Despite losing their loose head to the sinbin for a blatant high tackle with half an hour gone, Park attacked again and forced a penalty close to Stortford's posts, kicked by Josh Bragman to take his side into a 22-3 lead. Stortford threatened briefly but an attacking chip kick went inches too far, allowing ex London-Irishman, James Stokes to field, break away and kick ahead for another converted try. Stortford fought back, as the first half was coming to a close and a well-timed intervention into the line from fullback, Jake Morris saw him burst through and find James Ayrton inside for a well-worked try, converted by Cole to take the score at the break to 29-10.

Stortford reduced the deficit to 12 points early in the second half with a try to Matt Riddington, after the side had gone through multiple phases, with two quickly tapped penalties by Connor Lloyd keeping up the high momentum to eventually break down the strong home defence. The visitors continued to play with high tempo, forcing further penalties and a yellow card for former Stortford player, Jacob Wrafter, but allowed themselves to be held up at an attacking lineout maul to release the pressure. Having taken the sting out of the visitors' attack, Park resumed control, taking advantage of further Stortford lineout woes to press forward. Chris Smith was sin-binned for an offence at a maul driving at the try line and this only delayed the inevitable, with Wrafter forcing his way over from the base of another maul shortly afterwards. Walker got his second try with 7 minutes remaining, when he took a pass in traffic but instantly chipped ahead and easily won the race to regather, putting his side 24 points ahead. Stortford weren't finished, though and, after a typical break through the middle of a ruck by Alex Rayment to take him thirty metres upfield, the ball was swung quickly to the opposite wing, where Will Rogers forced his way over for an unconverted try. The visitors continued to chase another score with increasing desperation and a long pass in midfield, thrown more in hope than expectation, unfortunately went to ground, allowing Walker to seize on the loose ball and dash over for his hat-trick try. Bragman's conversion ended the game with a 26 point margin, a fair reward for the home team's extremely clinical finishing, taking advantage of Stortford's tendency to hand over possession too often and too easily.