With both sides looking to play expansive, running rugby in ideal conditions, entertainment was guaranteed for another large Stortford crowd and, with the home side coming out clearly on top, their supporters went home wreathed in smiles.

Early on, though, it was Canterbury that exerted some pressure and Stortford ill-discipline gifted 3 penalties in a row, the last of which produced three points for visiting flyhalf, Tom Best after 4 minutes. This brought an immediate response from the home side, as they capitalised fully on a knock-on from the restart to win a solid scrum and go through some quick interpassing, rounded off by prop, Will Roberts forcing his way over for the opening try on 6 minutes. Pier Dotta's conversion took the score to 7-3. Canterbury's cause was not helped when their openside flanker, Ryan Ward was yellow-carded for dropping a knee on a Stortford player at a breakdown after 13 minutes, though a penalty to Dotta for a scrum offence a couple of minutes later was the only score during the 10 minutes' sin-bin period. Roberts' second try after 23 minutes, galloping in from an excellent inside pass from Jimmy Rea was a turning point, after which the momentum swung clearly to the home side. Dotta's second conversion widened the margin to 14 points, to which was added another 5 points only 4 minutes later, when Nick Hankin produced a fantastic finish, running 40 yards down the wing from a great Dotta pass and barely breaking step, while standing up the last defender to plunge over in the corner. Canterbury fought back immediately and produced some slick handling to create an overlap on the right, rounded off by fullback, Martyn Beaumont to narrow the gap again to 14 points. The half was ended, though with a bonus-point try for Stortford, when Jimmy Rea, who had looked lively all game, took an interception and ran in to touch down from the halfway line. Dotta's conversion took the score at the break to 29-8.

The second half started in similar vein, with thrust and counter-thrust from both sides. Initially, though Stortford's accuracy deserted them at crucial moments, when threatening the Canterbury line and the visitors took advantage to enjoy the better part of territory for the first 20 minutes or so. This produced early dividends in the shape of a try after 8 minutes to substitute winger, Harry Sayers, who beat a team-mate to touch down a well-judged chip kick into our deep dead-ball area from scrumhalf, Dan Smart. Stortford were now required to show their abilities in defence and were not found wanting. Ironically, though, it seemed to take a yellow card after 19 minutes against second row, Matt Tomlinson, for failing to roll away from a ruck on the Stortford line to galvanise the home team into some effective attacking rugby. A good break through the middle by debutant centre, Dom Morris, put his side on the front foot and a burst of quick, accurate interplay saw Stortford hammering at the Canterbury line. A scrum, when a surge was deemed to have been held up over the line, was won well by the seven remaining forwards and quick hands allowed Richard Gill to force his way over on 26 minutes for a try, again well converted by Dotta. Tomlinson had barely been back on the field for 3 minutes, when Morris scored a tremendous solo try, making a clean outside break in the centre and having the pace then to make the line from some 40 yards out. The conversion attempt bounced back off an upright to leave the score at 41-13. A yellow card some 5 minutes later to the Canterbury flyhalf for a blatant late tackle on his opposite number, Tom Coleman was the prelude to a final Stortford try a minute later, when Steve Ball broke off the back of a maul that had been driven some 15 metres deep into the Canterbury 22 to crash over close to the posts, for Sam Coleman, in Dotta's absence, to kick the conversion for a final scoreline of 48-13.

With the whole team playing well and moments of brilliance from a number of the backs, it was a very difficult task to pick the BIT Solutions Man of the Match. The whole pack, in which Will Roberts stood out - not only for his two tries - was strong throughout but the vote finally went to Baxter Wilson for his non-stop performance and low error-count both in attack and defence over the full 80 minutes.

This was Stortford's best performance of the season so far and, at times they hit the heights we became used to seeing in the second half of last season. This should send the team into the preparations for next week's big trip to league leaders, Taunton in good heart, but they will know that, despite the opposition's loss today at Cambridge, they will face a significantly stiffer challenge in Somerset.