Old Elthamians 17 Bishop's Stortford First XV 17

In total contrast to recent games, Stortford came out quickly and totally dominated the first quarter of this game, camping in the home 22 and threatening a number of times to cross the try line. The home defence held out, though and the visitors eventually settled for three points from Brad Burr's boot with some 10 minutes gone, after a penalty was forced under OEs' posts. Stortford maintained the pressure from the restart and punished a poor defensive kick clinically, as Nick Hankin ran the ball back, finding Charlie Kingham in support, who first slowed and then accelerated, taking out several defenders in the process and delivering a perfect pass to James Ayrton, who was able to sprint in under the posts without a hand laid on him. Stortford managed to maintain their stranglehold on the game for a while, but a clearly shocked OEs side, aided by a series of unforced opposition errors steadily worked their way into the game, as the visitors increasingly gave away possession. It was 20 minutes, though, before the home side was able to capitalise, taking advantage of 2 successive penalties to make a rare incursion into Stortford's 22 and a quick tap from the second gave them the momentum, from which two phases of forward possession allowed them to drive over close to the posts for a converted try. The visitors battled their way back into the game, but failed to re-establish control and a knock-on from a poor OEs penalty kick, falling well short of touch established the home side in Stortford's 22, where eventually, despite some determined tackling, a penalty was finally won at a breakdown under the posts, allowing Tom White to level the scores immediately before the break.

Stortford started the second period strongly, but the home defence held tight and eventually a loose Stortford pass in midfield allowed OEs to break out into the opposition 22, where a penalty was conceded for offside at a breakdown. Amazingly, White's shot at goal from almost in front of the posts with 9 minutes of the half gone was pulled wide. Stortford now regathered and, working their way back into the game, won three successive penalties which, after 24 minutes earned them a 5 metre lineout. The ball was won well and the pack, supported by a number of backs, was able to drive over for a try out wide. Brad Burr stepped up to nail a tremendous conversion virtually from the touchline and across the head wind. His team looked to have reasserted control over the next 10 minutes, but a well-judged cross kick from OEs' flyhalf, stopping just short of the Stortford try-line was not well dealt with and a 5 metre attacking scrum was conceded. Initial, aggressive tackling from Stortford held the opposition out, but 2 phases later OEs spread the ball wide and a slipped tackle forced the visitors' wing to bite in and a clever, backhanded offload out of the cover tackle, saw the home side's right wing in for a try close to the touchline. Putting his earlier penalty miss behind him, White slotted a good conversion to level the scores. Stortford once again mounted a threatening attack, but a mistake in midfield turned over possession and it was only an OEs knock-on in front of Stortford's posts that deprived them of a try, with time running out. The home side, nevertheless maintained pressure and it took some tremendous defence in their own 22 by Stortford to keep their line intact. The final whistle was, therefore greeted with some relief by Stortford's many travelling supporters, even though, on the overall balance of play, their side probably deserved to have squeaked what would have been a notable win.