Unlike the earlier fixture at Cinderford, this never shaped up to be a high scoring game and the visiting pack got nowhere near achieving the dominance they had achieved on their home ground. The visiting side were disrupted when they had to replace their full back, who was injured in the warm up but, although possibly blunted in attack, they defended manfully throughout. Cinderford had the advantage of the wind in the first half but they were using the wind more to relieve pressure than to keep Stortford pinned down in their 22. The Stortford outside half was yellow carded after 17 minutes and the visitors took full advantage to open the scoring 4 minutes later from a charged down kick, touched down by centre, George Boulton. Reece Boughton converted, but there were no further scores in the first half until the same number 10 kicked two penalties given away by Stortford in the final 3 minutes of the half, taking the score at the break to 0-13. It was significant that Cinderford took the kicks for goal, as, unlike the game at Cinderford, the visitors’ rolling maul was not proving effective.

The second half followed the somewhat dour pattern of the first half, with defences, generally on top. Stortford also took the option 6 minutes into the half to take the points on offer, when Alfie Orchard kicked a penalty. The home side were right back in the game, another 6 minutes later, when aggressive tackling by Stortford as Cinderford tried to run from under their posts, forced the ball loose and Sam Wnter seized on the ball to touch down by the posts. Orchard’s conversion made the score 10-13 but, unfortunately for Stortford, some poor defence let in Cinderford for a try by their hooker,Sam Baker, who scored out wide. Boughton made a good conversion and the score was now 10-20. Almost immediately, though, Stortford countered and Josh Stannard got his now customary try wide out to make it 15-20. Despite there being plenty of time left in the game, though, there were no further scores. Stortford had to be satisfied with a good performance by their forwards and a losing bonus point, which served to make ground in the league, with most close rivals failing to register any points.

Our thanks go to Matchday sponsors, Corporate Forward Finance for their continuing support and to great Club supporters, Tees Law, who sponsored today’s Man of the Match. Their award went to the ever-threatening Josh Stannard.