Once again the U14s produced a solid team effort, taking the match by 8 points and further demonstrating the progress this squad has made. For once we started the game on the front foot, with Ben Pedler receiving the kick-off and running through the Upminster defence for a try from the very first play of the game. The visitors came back strongly and after a prolonged period of pressure, which saw Caleb and Jacob combine brilliantly to hold-up a clear try, Upminster eventually broke through to level the game. We regained our lead when a brilliant piece of quick thinking and vision from Tom Flanagan, saw our scrum-half dart into the corner following a 5 meter scrum. Our final score of the half came from a catch and drive line-out with Greer breaking from the resulting maul and cross the line for his first Stortford try giving us a 15-5 lead at the break.

Upminster were first out of the blocks in the second half, scoring an early converted try to tighten the match before replacement Hamish dived home minutes after coming onto the field. Another converted try from the visitors made the score 20-19 with just 5 minutes remaining and the momentum swinging to the away team. The boys stuck to their plan and continued to move the ball wide eventually finding Matt Furrer just inside the Upminster half. The wingers powerful run, picking a perfect line, brought a brilliant try under the posts. Skipper Fabian knocked it over for the extra points and we closed the game out 27-19. A great team performance where we once again proved our forwards technique and strength can compete solidly and when we unlock our backs they are a match for any side.