Cornish All Blacks (Launceston) 34 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 33

Having had slightly the better of a scrappy game, Stortford managed to throw away a 4 point lead by conceding a try to 14 man Launceston right at the death, after failing to close down a game, which was in their hands.

The visitors had started brightly and, when a great solo run by Nick Hankin from a speculative kick out of defence by Launceston was halted just short of the line, the second of two penalties was converted by Olly Walker for a 3 point lead, five minutes into the game. Stortford managed to hold onto the lead for some 15 minutes, but the home side capitalised on a number of handling and defensive mistakes to force their way upfield and conceded three points for a breakdown offence on their own 22. Three minutes later and Stortford were 7 points behind, when Launceston exploited some woeful midfield tackling for substitute wing, Westren to run 40 yards before setting centre, Ryan Patterson clear to the line for a converted try. The gap was narrowed 2 minutes later, when Walker slotted another penalty, when the home side were penalised for going over the ball at a ruck. Straight from the restart, swift handling by a couple of Stortford forwards created space for second row, Dave Aldam to gallop in for a try from some 40 yards and Walker’s conversion took the score to 10-13. Better was to come when hooker, Sam James forced his way over for a try through a couple of opposing forwards after 37 minutes, following an initial break by Marcus Cattell, well backed up by Sam Winter. Walker’s conversion attempt went narrowly wide. As the half came to a close, however, Stortford’s innate generosity again came to the fore and appalling defensive alignment in midfield allowed the home team’s flyhalf to stroll through a gaping hole straight off the back of a lineout to set up a try under the posts and an easy 7 points. There was still time enough, though for Sam Whiffen to kick an excellent penalty from almost halfway to take the scoreline at the break to 17-21.

Stortford again started the second half well and were rewarded after 5 minutes with a try to Sean Edwards, taking an inside pass from winger, Ross Bird off a good long pass from Cattell. Walker’s conversion attempt into the breeze fell just short. Four minutes later, though and the home side replied with their own unconverted try to No 6, Mike Rawlings, punishing some over-elaborate play in the Stortford centre, as tried to run the ball out of their own 22. After 14 minutes Launceston went into the lead with a converted try, following one of many poor Stortford turnovers was compounded by another badly missed tackle. Five minutes later, the home side missed a good opportunity to extend their lead, as a penalty awarded for a scrimmaging offence came back off the Stortford posts. The visitors again forced their way back into the game and drove their way to the Launceston line, where a yellow card was issued to a home player for handling the ball at a ruck. Stortford opted for a scrum, rather than going for goal and this enterprise had its direct reward when No 8, Mark McCraith plunged over directly from the scrum for a try, which walker converted to take the score to 29-33 with less than 15 minutes to go. Despite the home side incurring another yellow card some five minutes from the end of the game, the visitors were unable to exert the control they needed to see the game out. With a number of substitutes now on the field, Stortford seemed unable to establish any pattern. Despite this, it looked as if they were going to manage to hold out for an invaluable away win until, with only some 3 minutes to go, they were awarded a free kick at a scrum. Having, probably rightly decided not to take a quick tap, they proceeded to take a slow tap from which a forward was allowed to get isolated and a penalty was conceded as a result. Launceston, unsurprisingly kicked for the corner and after one or two phases, one of their props was awarded a dubious try, when the ball appeared to have been dislodged from his arms, as he plunged over the line. The score was enough, despite the missed conversion to give his side a one point victory and send the numerous travelling Stortford supporters on their long homeward journey feeling that the two bonus points gained were scant reward for the team’s overall efforts.