Bishop's Stortford 1st XV 37 Tring 13

Stortford squandered early possession, repeatedly turning ball over via a series of handling errors, many of them in Stortford territory, as they sought to attack from deep. After 14 minutes, the home side was made to pay for this overambition, as a highly committed Tring side took full toll of two penalties needlessly conceded by Stortford in midfield, the latter producing a yellow card for prop, Sean Edwards, as he interfered with a visiting player looking to take a quick tap. The resultant kick to touch was followed by a tremendous drive over the try line by the Tring forwards from a lineout some 10 metres out. The conversion attempt went narrowly wide, leaving the visitors 5 points ahead. Stortford came back fighting and, having won the ball from the restart, they managed to run through a series of phases of threatening rugby, eventually forcing a penalty for offside under the opposition posts, which Tom Coleman duly converted. The flyhalf doubled the home team's score and established a 1 point lead some 25 minutes into the game, taking the three points on offer again from under the posts, as Tring were penalised for a front row offence at their own put-in to a 5 metre scrum. Arguably, this was a let-off for the visitors, as the scrum had arisen from a knock-on as home prop, Adam Gelman attempted to touch down following some impressive interplay between forwards and backs. It took another 4 minutes for the increasingly strong Stortford side to register its first try, which came through some powerful running from winger, Jonno Child, knocking off tackle after tackle from a position created by a strong run down the opp0site flank by brother, Wayne. Coleman's conversion took his side out to a 13-5 lead, which is how the first half ended.

After 5 minutes of the second half, the flyhalf extended the lead by three points, after Tring were penalised for failing to release at a tackle, as they tried to run their way out of defence. This score was quickly offset, however, as Stortford failed again to deal with the dropout kick and the visitors, through their own stand-off, Tom Newton took the three points on offer from the second of two penalties conceded by Stortford in rapid succession. Fifteen minutes into the half and the home side registered their second try via a tremendous drive over the line from a five metre scrum, after John Stocker had been deemed to have been held up over the line. Coleman's unerring boot duly added the 2 points from out wide to take the score to 23-08. Five minutes later and another 5 points were added to Coleman's personal tally, as he gathered a clever grubber kick by Stocker and plunged over for a try under the posts, to which he easily added the extra 2 points. It was Tom's brother, Sam who was the next to score, as he took a quick tap penalty close to the Tring 22 to make quick ground and force his way over for the crucial fourth (bonus point)try under the posts, giving his brother another straightforward conversion. This took the score to 37-08 some 25 minutes into the half and followed some impressive close-quarters interplay between forwards and backs. The final score, though went to the visitors, who showed considerable fighting spirit in forcing Stortford back on their heels and maintaining pressure through several phases in the home 22. This was rounded off with some excellent quick handling down the blindside of a ruck, which ended up with left winger, Sam Barnes taking the ball at speed and plunging over to touch down wide out. A missed conversion left the final score at 37-13.

Once Stortford settled into their game after another slow start, the outcome of the game was never really in doubt, despite determined defence throughout from a committed Tring side. A bonus for the home side was the successful debuts made off the bench by Colts, Sam James and Ben Cook, neither of whom looked out of place amongst their seniors. Well done, lads!

The Man of the Match champagne, presented by our Youth Section sponsors, local Ford dealership, Gates was awarded to skipper and goalkicker extraordinaire, Tom Coleman.