Although Stortford have yet to lose to Southend since joining this League, you always know that they will provide stern opposition and that a win will have to be earned the hard way. So it was in this game except that Stortford appeared to want to make it even harder for themselves, with a disappointing first half performance that left them playing catch up.

Playing into the breeze, Stortford found themselves under self inflicted pressure almost from the kick off through giving away numerous penalties and making errors. It took Southend just over 5 minutes to punish them with a converted try, to take an early 7-0 lead. Stortford tried to respond but Southend worked hard and their strong, well organised defence made it difficult to get over the gain line and it seemed that every time Stortford managed to create some momentum it was lost either through an error or a penalty that the Southend 10 punished with long kicks downfield to touch. It was only a matter of time before Stortford gave away a penalty within kicking range and so it was, with 20 minutes played, that Southend extended their lead to 10-0. Southend maintained the pressure by closing down the Stortford ball carriers very quickly and making big hits in the tackle and hitting the rucks hard, as well as moving the ball at pace when they had possession, with their 10 and 12 working very well in tandem. On the half hour, Southend launched a series of attacks and with Stortford adopting a rush defence their 10 placed a well judged diagonal kick towards the corner that resulted in a simple touch down and an unconverted try that increased their lead to 15-0. At this point and with half-time approaching, you would be forgiven for wondering how Stortford were going to make any real impression in this game, the way things were going. Then Stortford made a rare visit into the Southend 22 and were awarded a 5 metre scrum. Up to this point, the scrums had been a bit scrappy but generally with honours even, but the Stortford pack took matters into their own hands and a superb driving effort allowed number 8, Baxter Wilson, to get over the line for a try that scrum half, Tom Banks, converted from wide out, to narrow the score to 15-7, which is how it remained to half-time.

With the breeze at their backs and the boost of a score just before half-time, the second half got underway with hopes of a resurgent Stortford taking the game to the opposition. However, almost immediately, Southend were on the front foot when their 10 slipped three tackles in midfield and put a clever grubber kick towards the corner only for the winger to knock on in trying to collect it just before the try line. Almost acting as a final wake up call, Stortford started to play as we know they can. A good touch find from a penalty by fly half, Tom Coleman, gave Stortford a lineout in good field position from which the ensuing catch and drive was stopped but with the scrum awarded to Stortford. Once again, the Stortford pack stepped up and drove over for Baxter Wilson to score his second try of the match that Banks converted, to close the gap to one point at 15-14. Sensing that Southend were beginning to tire, Stortford gradually increased the pressure and were unlucky not to be awarded a score when a diagonal kick from Tom Coleman deep into Southend territory was fielded brilliantly on the half volley by a diving Harry Marner who immediately made the ball available but it was deemed to be held up over the line from the ensuing maul. Southend somehow won the ball against the put in from the resultant scrum and cleared their line. Stortford had to wait ten minutes before they finally got the score they needed when a steal from a Southend lineout was moved at pace first left and then right for Sam Winter, who had moved from full back to centre, to score wide out. Tom Banks managed to convert the try with the help of the left hand post, to put Stortford into the lead for the first time 21-15. Although tiring from all their defensive work and struggling in the scrums by now, Southend continued to work hard and you sensed that Stortford needed to score again, to create a big enough cushion, as well as gain a valuable bonus point. We didn't have to wait long and it was worth it! Tom Banks fielded one of the few poor clearance kicks from Southend all afternoon from inside his own half and moved the ball quickly out to his left where it reached replacement full back, Pier Dotta, who fired out possibly one, if not the pass of the season so far to centre Dom Morris who took it on the burst as he also changed his angle of run, to go clear and over for a great try. Tom Banks kicked the convertion, to move the score out to 28-15, which where it stayed to the final whistle.

Southend must have thought at half-time that they were in with a good chance of pulling off a good win away from home. Great credit must go to Stortford for showing both patience and resolve, to turn the game round. More specifically, the forwards deserve the plaudits for, firstly, grinding out the two tries that brought Stortford back into contention and then putting the Southend pack under such pressure that the ball they did win was not of the quality that their backs could do much with. Not surprisingly, Man of the Match went to a forward in the significant shape of prop forward, Sean Edwards.

Hopefully, Stortford will be able to muster a full 80 minutes of rugby in the big game at Cambridge on January 2 - which will be needed to compete with our table-topping rivals!