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Bishops Stortford 1st XV 11 Dorking 13
Havant 30 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 27
The Coaches Corner'
I had a teacher who always used the saying” if you start off well and end off well the middle takes care of itself” we going to need to focus on the middle and end this season! yes we all wanted a winning start but the reality is we have played 2 and lost 2, there is nothing we can do to change that, what is important, we stay together, focused and believe in where we headed and want to achieve, Barnes RFC is a good example of that last season and were promoted for a fantastic style of rugby and doing something very different from other teams.
It is amazing what winning can do for a team but if you learn from defeat and fix the problems the same can be said, it takes effort, team work and positive thinking to move forward, if You look at England’s start in the world cup and how they bounced back to be in the finals. It is credit to a team who under pressure and against all odds, fight back and work hard to be in the mix at the end, and as a team that is what we need to do.
The Havant game for a neutral must have been a very entertaining game, after a long drive down and unfortunately for the coach delays and bad traffic , Their team and management were really top guys and all credit to them on there fight back and great win, especially to the players, good bunch of guys. It was a huge disappointment to loose the game but Havant scored some great tries to get back and eventually win with a well taken penalty.
We were 27-13 up and at that stage I thought we were on the verge of opening up and sealing the game off, we scored some incredible tries and played some very good rugby in stages but the tries we did not score and the mistakes we made to give Havant the chance to attack and score against us has left me Furious and very frustrated.
We need to make sure we have learnt from this match, analysis and player feedback will be very important this week to build and move forward for the next game. The players don’t go out there to loose and for effort you cannot fault them, I think we lack leaders, patience in attack , experience to close a game out and basic skills in pressure situations, We had a good chat after the game and players know what we need to work on and what it takes to compete at this level.None of the above is to difficult to fix and I know the boys will work hard on getting it right, they a good bunch.
A huge thanks to the supporters who travelled down to Havant, how a stadium at the ground and a large vocal crowd can lift a team was evident on Saturday and there supporters gave them a big boost and support to come back, well done.
Consistency and doing the basics well is key along with the amount of penalties we give away, I would love to get the penalty count in the second half, we killed ourselves on the park and it is an area we will need to address.
Moving on, exciting week ahead and massive game for the team this week when we welcome Hertford who have got off to a great start, surprising win over Oa’s and then a convincing win on Sat, we had some supporters watch them and will do our best to cause a big upset come next Saturday, we will be up against it and the big underdogs going into Saturday but then that is what makes this game so beautiful and interesting.
Hope we have a huge and a vocal crowd supporting the boys this Saturday.
Cheers
Peter
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 19 Hertford 17
After close defeats in our opening two National Three London & SE games everything came right in Saturday as we recorded our first league win against near neighbours Hertford since 2002.
On a beautiful late summer's afternoon at Silver Leys our boys started brightly and attacked for the opening seven minutes of the game before our visitors seized upon a mistake to take the lead on their first visit to our half! But Stortford responded well and were twice rewarded with points from the boot of debutant Full back Sam Coleman before Marcus Cattell made a break and fed Adam Draper for a try in the corner which again Coleman slotted despite it being close to the touchline. Hertford responded with a penalty of their own before the end of the half. H/T 13-10.
The visitors started the 2nd period as brightly as we had the 1st but dogged defence kept out wave after wave of pressure until finally 10 minutes before the end the referee awarded Hertford a penalty try which they converted for an infringement at the scrum. Falling behind though seemed to spur the Bishop's on and for the first time in the half we managed to maintain field position in Hertford territory. Within minutes the deficit was reduced when the visiting defence strayed offside and Coleman calmly slotted the resultant penalty.
It was all Stortford now and although we perhaps should have made better use of possession to score a maximum, the home faithful were not complaining when the referee awarded us another penalty in almost an identical position to the previous one. The crowd of nearly 400 fell deathly silent but young Coleman kept his nerve to push our noses back in front with only seconds left on the clock. What remained of time was seen out without undue alarm and the final whistle heralded scenes of wild celebration by home players and spectators alike. Final Score 19-17.
A well deserved victory resulting from a much improved team display - particularly in defence and one from which we can all take great heart and confidence into the weeks ahead.
Tring 19 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 22
Almost inevitably, there seemed to be something of a hangover effect from last week's stirring home win over local rivals, Hertford and Stortford's prospects for this further Hertfordshire tussle were not improved by the need for a late reshuffling of their three-quarters, following the failure of a fitness test by centre, Alex Stockley
Having said that, replacement Nick Harris, promoted from the bench on his first appearance of the season, couldn't have started better, running in two tries within the first 10 minutes of the game, the second, in particular taking some scoring. A successful conversion by Sam Coleman of the second try saw Stortford leap into a 12-0 lead, but this was whittled down over the next 25 minutes by three kicks from Tring's fly-half, as Stortford again conceded a string of penalties. At only 9-12 down, the home side would have been looking forward to the second half with the benefit of the slope and bright sun behind them, but Stortford's indomitable captain, Mark McCraith had other ideas and, breaking from the back of a scrum some 10 metres out, he forced his way over for his side's third try on the stroke of half time.
The second half, nevertheless, saw Tring hurling themselves forward and Stortford's sturdy defence was severely tested. Yet another penalty for a ruck/maul infringement brought the home side to within 5 points and further concerted pressure from Tring eventually led to a one on one out wide, which they successfully exploited for a touchline try with about twenty minutes to go. Most impressively, their fly-half stepped up to make the conversion and put the home side in the lead for the first time in the game. Stortford successfully weathered a further period of pressure and then slowly started to gain some possession for pretty much the first time in the half and were able to show some of the slick handling among the backs, with which they had started the game. Two or three promising positions were, however, squandered as patience was lost and individuals attempted to force situations, when setting up another of many sweeping phases might well have brought the score now so desperately needed. Eventually, though, the pressure was made to count and as the ball swung back wide for the third time in a single passage of play, an overlap was created on the left wing and a well-timed and – executed miss-pass from Marcus Cattell found winger Adam Draper, who dashed the remaining 15 metres to touch down in the corner. Much to the relief of the visiting supporters, this proved to be the last move of the game, with the referee blowing for full time as soon as Coleman's attempted conversion flew outside the posts.
This was one that Stortford got away with but who's to say that, after the narrow losses to table-topping Dorking and Havant, it hadn't, overall been earned? The numerous and vociferous Tring supporters would be justified on the balance of today's play in feeling bitterly disappointed but, in the end, Stortford's individual firepower in the backs proved to be decisive.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 13 Bracknell 19
Our 1st XV couldn't make it three wins on the trot on Saturday losing out to a strong Bracknell team who came down from playing at level four last season 13-19.
On a very breezy day at Silver Leys Stortford despite playing against the prevailing wind although it was predominantly blowing across the pitch, recovered from an early set back when the visitors Scrum Half - who was impressive throughout- exploited an unguarded blind side to cross the white wash and open the scoring. Sam Coleman kicked two penalties and also converted a Richard Gill try to push us into a 13-5 lead as Half time approached. Unfortunately we conceded again just before the break when Bracknell's powerful left winger broke tackles to score under the posts. Although their kicker had already missed a number of presentable opportunities to increase their tally he was in no mood to miss the gift of a conversion under the posts so we went into the break with the narrowest of leads 13-12
Sadly we failed to capitalize on any advantage the conditions might have offered us in the second period and failed to trouble the scorers again. Bracknell scored a close quarters forwards try close to the touchline soon after the restart which remarkably given his previous attempts the kicker converted. 13-19.
Stortford persisted in trying to play entertaining running rugby even when deep in their own territory when possibly a more pragmatic approach of using the wind to gain field position might have been a more productive tactic. Bracknell too though failed to convert a number of chances to extend their lead so in the end securing our 5th successive bonus point for a narrow loss was at least some reward for the enterprise we had shown.
After the rest of the weekend’s results in National 3 London & SE we remain in seventh place in the 14 team league. Although a distinct gap is beginning to appear between those in the top half and those in the bottom
North Walsham 22 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 15
Despite a roaring start to today's game at North Walsham, Stortford played most of this game like a side, for some unknown reason, lacking confidence and deservedly lost what was a pretty poor game overall.
Within five minutes of the start, Stortford scored a really good try, with fly half, Cattell making the initial break, passing on to blindside wing, Harry Marner, who committed his man and set up fellow winger, Ed Merrivale to touch down. Shortly afterwards, the visitors were pressing again close to the Walsham 22, when, with loads of support outside a Stortford centre chipped ahead for the opposing fullback to make an easy mark. Three penalties against Stortford quickly followed and some committed running by the Walsham three quarters brought a converted try taking the home side 7-5 ahead.
From then on, despite a, possibly, rather fortuitous try to scrumhalf, Sam Coleman after a speculative chip ahead bounced sideward’s, Stortford's backs seemed devoid of any individual self-belief and bad ball was repeatedly shuffled on providing the aggressive Walsham defenders with inviting opportunities for big hits, which they happily accepted. The resultant home pressure brought them two more tries before half time which, with a penalty to each side brought the score at the break to 19-15. Significantly, also, Stortford ended the half with only 13 men, following yellow cards for Richard Gill and Tom McCraith after repeated infringements at breakdowns.
Although playing up the slight hill and with the breeze against them in the second half, Stortford did manage to regroup, defensively at least and managed to restrict scoring to just one home penalty. Unfortunately, apart from one missed shot at goal, Stortford did not really threaten to score, despite the hosts themselves being reduced to 13 men for the last few minutes as a result of yellow cards to one of their centres and a second row. It is true that this advantage was quite quickly reduced to 1 man as a result of what looked like a serious leg injury to Stortford's replacement winger, Grant Farrow, but the lack of conviction in attack was, nevertheless, extremely disappointing.
There's no doubt that this represented an off-day for a number of our players and one which, hopefully, will not be repeated for some time. Next week's home fixture against wealthy and ambitious Jersey will certainly call for a dramatic step-up in performance levels.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 10 Jersey 52
Despite a vastly improved performance this week after the lows of last week's defeat at North Walsham, Stortford found themselves generally outgunned by table-topping Jersey. This was perhaps not surprising, considering the array of top class talent fielded by the visitors, including a right winger, Ashley Maggs bigger than any of the home forwards! Stortford actually competed very well for the first and last quarters but in between Jersey proved to be strong from 1 to 15 and also extremely well drilled when it came to exploiting the opportunities they generated. They were, admittedly, aided during this middle period by a number of missed tackles and a lot of miss fields of some very good tactical kicking but, with ball in hand they were by some margin the best side seen here over the last few seasons – including Richmond and London Scottish!
Some ruthless rugby and clinical finishing in the second quarter rapidly took the visitors to a 0-31 halftime lead with a serious threat of the brave home defence becoming totally overrun.
The Stortford players, however, appeared to make good use of the 10 minute halftime break (requested by Jersey) to regroup and made the visitors work much harder for their points thereafter. A second half score line of 10-21 hardly flattered Stortford and the tries scored by wing, Adam Draper and prop, Richard McMillan were thoroughly deserved.
A good platform on which to build for forthcoming fixtures, as long as the team can reproduce the fantastic level of commitment and effort with which they finished this very tough fixture
Diss 21 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 14
Another very disappointing performance this week saw Stortford let slip a winning position which, to be fair, their play overall had hardly deserved.
Once again, Stortford started well and dominated the first 20 minutes of the game, but squandered a handful of try scoring opportunities with poor handling of final passes. Eventually, though a score did come via a touchdown by flanker Richard Gill at the back of a rolling maul. The conversion was missed, but the visitors' lead was extended some 10 minutes later via a long range penalty kicked by Sam Coleman. This advantage was immediately lost, however, when from the restart, the kick was knocked on by Stortford, the ball then being played by another Stortford player in an offside position, giving the home side an easy three points.
For some reason, Stortford's ball at the set piece now started to dwindle, with a succession of our own lineouts turned over and culminating in two scrums in succession being lost against the head. Diss drove home the advantage of this flow of ball and, unlike Stortford earlier, managed to run through many phases and finally, just before halftime got the try they deserved via their own rolling maul.
The second half picked up where the first had left off and only some stout defence by Stortford prevented a further try. The pressure did, however bring Diss a penalty to take them into the lead. Stortford now worked their way slowly back into the game, but required two relatively soft offences at breakdowns in front of the posts to give them back the lead via two more penalties to Coleman – the second with only some 5 minutes left. Unfortunately, though the side proved incapable once again of playing the tight, controlled rugby necessary to close out such games. Ground and possession were conceded and another penalty at the breakdown brought the sides level again with 2 or 3 minutes left. Stortford managed from the restart to establish a good position in the home 22 but contrived not only to waste the opportunity, but to also turn the ball over. A quick break by Diss down the left produced another a chance for another mauled try but, when the Stortford defence held tight, the fly half spotted acres of space across on the right wing and a chip across field saw the home fullback with plenty of time to gather up and flop over for the winning try. The successful conversion finished the game
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 15 OA's 34
There was no lack of motivation for Stortford against local rivals, OAs, but fighting spirit proved to be insufficient against a very well drilled side, sharing only 4 players with the teams faced last season.
Having shared the balance of play over the first 15 minutes or so, Stortford took the lead with a try from fullback, Jimmy Rea who eventually got the touchdown after a cross kick from returning flyhalf, Tom Coleman. Unfortunately, the advantage lasted barely three minutes, when a poor chip kick in midfield saw one of the visiting burly props field the ball and proceed to trundle some fifty yards to the line virtually unmolested. Gregg's conversion took the visitors into a lead that they were never to relinquish. Less than purposeful kicking by Stortford repeatedly invited the well-organised opposition to attack and, although the home defence managed to repel an impressive long-range attack, a penalty was conceded, resulting in a further 3 points' deficit.
Almost from the kick-off for the second half, OAs ran in the decisive try, with their right winger taking advantage of more ineffectual home tackling. The conversion by Gregg stretched the lead to 12, which he further extended via a penalty after Jimmy Rea was penalised and yellow carded for preventing release of the ball at a ruck on the Stortford line. The visitors effectively moved out of range during the yellow card period, when pressure on a Stortford put-in at a scrum enabled the OAs' scrum half to pounce on the ball, make good ground and two more passes were sufficient to produce their third try, which Gregg once again converted.
The home side now rallied with tries from Jimmy Rea - the product of another telling cross kick from Tom Coleman – and Second Row, Hamish Irving, whose rampaging play all over the pitch deserved no less. This brought the score to 15-27 but any thoughts home fans might have harboured of further narrowing the gap within the remaining 10 minutes to garner a losing bonus point were crushed when the visitors, having declined an easy three points from a penalty, were rewarded for their ambition with a final try, duly converted by Gregg.
Overall, this performance against a very skilful and well-organised OAs provides some grounds for optimism, particularly if frailties in the tackle can be sorted out.
Haywards Heath 10 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 48
The success of our Club fireworks display was made all the sweeter once we had learnt that our First XV had broken their run of recent setbacks and convincingly beaten Hayward’s Heath in their National League 3 meeting in Sussex. Building on last week's more spirited performance, Stortford came out with great conviction at Hayward’s Heath, not historically a happy hunting ground for us. The forwards provided a stream of good quality ball with Simon Greenall making his first appearance of the season at hooker finding his men with unerring accuracy in the line out’s and the pack collectively showing great drive. For the first time in a few weeks, the backs also showed a lot of confidence, seeming determined to exploit every opportunity. As a result, Stortford were 14-0 up within ten minutes through two well crafted tries scored by Harry Marner and Jimmy Rea, both of which were converted by Tom Coleman, apparently back to full fitness at last and looking full of confidence as a result. Two penalties to Coleman took the visitors' lead to 20 points before Heath pulled a penalty back. It was barely a minute later, though that Stortford went further ahead when Richard Gill charged down an attempted clearance by Heath, gathered the ball himself and ran 20 metres to touch down. Almost inevitably, Coleman again converted from wide out, as he did just before half time, when a practice ground move off the back of a lineout some 15 metres from the home line saw Tom McCraith peeling round the back of the line and feeding Max Malkin, who touched down under the posts.
The home side came out for the second half with renewed vigour and pressed repeatedly at the Stortford line. Stout defence – a further improvement on last week - kept the line intact but, aided by a series of penalties for an array of misdemeanours, Heath were hardly out of the Stortford half in the first quarter of an hour. It was a hammer blow to home hopes, therefore when Stortford kicked deep into the opponents' half and a poor return kick into midfield was fielded by Jake Guastella on about halfway, who used the potential overlap outside to dummy his way straight up the middle and gallop over for yet another try. A further converted try completed Stortford's scoring, when Tom Coleman looped round substitute centre, Marcus Cattell to take the return pass and feed Jimmy Rea, who scooted over for his second touchdown of the game.
There remained only for the home side to score a consolation try at the very end of the game, when yet another promising backs move down the left wing for once broke down and Heath were very quick to pounce on the ball and fullback, Rob Jackson outstripped the visiting cover defence to run in from some 70 metres. The conversion brought the final score to 10-48 and a very welcome 5 league points to boost Stortford's position in the table
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 36 Sutton & Epsom 6
A howling gale and intermittent heavy rain did not make for running rugby and it was not surprising, therefore, that the first scores were penalties for each side, with Tom Coleman, the Stortford fly half opening the scoring. It was not long, however, before the home team registered the first try, with Harry Marner scoring from a kick ahead by flanker, Richard Gill following a good break by Mark McCraith following a scrum taken against the head. Tom Coleman duly converted.
The second try followed almost immediately when the visitors took possession from the kick-off, but an attempted clearance kick was charged down and Stortford went through three or four phases to set up Maehe Austin to run in his first try for the Club. The visitors registered another penalty shortly afterwards, but Stortford continued to defend stoutly against the raging elements, aided by tremendous scrummaging, resulting in two further heels against the head. A third try came shortly before half time, when Tom Coleman made a clean break and fed Jake Guastella, who ran in under the posts from around 40 metres out. Coleman duly converted to take the midway score line to 22-6.
With the elements in our favour in the second half, the prospects for another big win looked good, but Sutton were clearly determined to take full advantage of the difficult conditions to limit the score line. It, therefore took some 20 minutes for Stortford to register the bonus point-winning fourth try, when skipper, Mark McCraith, again leading strongly from the front, broke from the base of a scrum to feed Nick Harris, who broke free but couldn't quite make the line and it took well recycled ball for Tom Coleman again to make an incisive break and set up fullback, Jimmy Rea to run in the try. Coleman again converted. Scoring was completed when Coleman, once again, made a clean break to set up the ever alert Jimmy Rea to run outside the visiting defence and touch down under the posts. The conversion from Coleman brought the final score to 36-6.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 65 Portsmouth 18
Our Former players and gathered guests were treated to a cornucopia of tries and free running rugby at Silver Leys this Saturday as our boys really hit their straps and recorded their highest score in recent memory against a dishevelled Portsmouth team. From the outset the Blues looked to dominate their opposition, who were delayed on their journey from the south coast. & Captain Fantastic Mark McCraith started what was to prove to be an avalanche of nine tries for the home side.
Quickly recycled ball and good hands across the back line produced further first half tries from Hamish Irvine, Nick Harris, Tom Coleman and Adam Draper with the other points coming from Coleman’s trusty boot -left the visitors reeling and adrift at the break 32-3. The pick of the 1st half tries resulting in Draper's touchdown came after the ball was moved quickly from our own 10m line by Jimmy Rae who drew the last defender before passing to our ever reliant winger to complete the run in.
Coleman himself started the second half as we had finished the first with a well worked score in the corner and this was soon complemented by a good interchange between forwards and backs resulting in a try for Richard Gill which Coleman duly converted.
Stortford scored their 3rd try in 10 minutes when a break from Harry Marner led to a precise cross kick from Coleman into the hands of Irvine lurking on the wing who fed inside to Guastella to finish off the move for another 5 points. Tom Coleman kicked the first of two top quality conversions from the touchline.
Pompey hit back with an unconverted try of their own soon afterwards but further tries from Marner and Draper the second of which was a real peach involving a quick interchange in the back line and an inside pass that completely foxed the visiting defence which was crowned by the second of the previously alluded to touchline conversions by Mr Coleman.
With the home side well and truly home and hosed it mattered little that our visitors salvaged two consolation tries in the gathering doom after we were reduced to 14 men due to injury.
When the final whistle sounded it did so over a contented if not chilly home crowd who had witnessed a well organised and co-ordinated demolition of a spirited opposition. Well done guys – let’s keep the good run up!
Basingstoke 25 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 21
Even though the Bishop's were aware before the game of the threat posed by Basingstoke's pacy left wing three quarter Glen Lewis their early failure to execute a game plan to keep him quite, eventually proved costly to any hopes they had of returning from Hampshire with a fourth consecutive league win.
The hosts opened the scoring from a penalty after 9 minutes but the incident leading to the penalty award was ultimately far more costly to the visitors than a mere 3 points. Stortford Winger Nick Harris was yellow carded for an indiscretion and in the 10 minutes he was absent from the game Basingstoke proceeded to run in two tries, the second of which from lightening fast winger Lewis was converted and suddenly our boys found themselves fifteen points adrift after a quarter of the game.
Harris' return to the fray restored the equilibrium one would have expected from two teams so close together in the league before the game and Stortford's own speedster left wing Adam Draper crossed the whitewash to get us on the scoreboard and Tom Coleman further reduced the deficit from the resultant conversion to leave the score at 15-7.
Unfortunately within minutes Basingstoke had restored most of their advantage when once again Lewis ran free to cross the line to leave us trailing at half time 20-7
Stortford reduced their arrears soon after the restart with a Mark McCraith try which was again converted by 'Mr Reliable' Tom Coleman but with seven minutes to go the home team scored their fourth 'bonus point' try -for what proved to be the decisive score in the game.
To their credit the Bishops kept pushing right to the final whistle and their efforts and endeavour were rewarded with a last gasp try from Ed Merrivale which Coleman again converted with the last kick of the game. That score meant we picked up a well deserved 'bonus point' with which to console ourselves on the journey home.
In conclusion- evidence if ever it was needed that losing players to the 'Sin bin' for just ten minutes often proves a significant factor in the final outcome after the full eighty!
Basingstoke have now climbed into 4th spot in the league after benefiting from slip ups by Havant and Hertford. Our bonus point keeps us in 8th
Next Saturday we welcome Havant to Silver Leys and hope our guys can put the disappointment of this trip behind them to record a 6th win of their campaign.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 26 Havant 8
Spurred on by the refusal of Havant to delay the kick-off of the earlier away fixture after the Stortford coach had been delayed by traffic, Bishop's Stortford did not lack in motivation for the return fixture and duly started in aggressive vein. A stream of good possession from the forwards and controlled recycling by the backs put the visitors under heavy pressure, which resulted in a succession of penalties, allowing Stortford to dominate both possession and territory. This eventually led to a try for centre, Nick Harris, who picked up a speculative pass on the bounce and forced his way over. Tom Coleman converted and, despite missing a couple of long penalty attempts, continued to pull the strings to good effect from fly-half.
His next significant contribution, however, was very much off the cuff when, following a 5 yard scrum, after winger Harry Marner had been held up over the line, following a good break and cross chip by Marcus Cattell, the ball came to him under pressure and he whipped the ball away between his legs for Cattell to dive over for the second try. Coleman duly converted and two penalties by him and one to the visitors brought us to half-time at 20-3 to Stortford,
Two yellow cards to Havant shortly before halftime meant that they started the second half with only thirteen men, which perhaps caused a degree of overconfidence in some of the home players, who looked to force early scores, rather than wait until clear gaps opened up. To be fair to Havant, they also found a new level of concentration and took full advantage of Stortford's profligacy to run through phase after phase with ball in hand and, while seldom threatening to score themselves, managed to run down the sin bin clocks without conceding further points.
Stortford, however, maintained pressure and two further penalties by Coleman resulted, the first of which also produced Havant's third yellow card. Yet again, though, Stortford were unable to take full advantage of the one man advantage and, in fact the tables were turned somewhat when replacement home prop, Richard McMillan was yellow-carded at a breakdown. Havant were eventually able to make this count when, following a number of phases, a short-range grubber kick from their inside centre bounced nicely for their right winger to touch down for a consolation try.
Despite this late score, this was another convincing win against a side above us in the League and an additional boost ahead of next week's big derby game at Hertford!
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 22 North Walsham 0
Last week's “friendly” game at Bury St Edmunds proved to have been a valuable workout in this hard-fought game against North Walsham, who had missed only one match to the freeze against Stortford's three. The home side came out hard from the kick-off and, despite a number of unforced errors, including the fluffing of one golden try-scoring opportunity, had a clear edge overall. The score line could have been very different, however, had fullback, Jimmy Rea not made a tremendous try-saving tackle or, indeed, had a marginal decision for a forward pass from Richard Gill not prevented a probable Stortford try. Nevertheless, it was only the unerring boot of home fly half, Tom Coleman that produced a half time lead of 6-0 by converting both the penalty opportunities he had, while the visiting fullback muffed his one gilt-edged chance.
Try-scoring chances were always going to prove limited with two very stubborn defences and the edge that Stortford were able to maintain in the set pieces proved to be crucial, as the home side steadily moved out to a 15 point lead, courtesy of three more penalties out of three from Coleman.
Both sides, however, continued to attempt to breach the other's defensive blanket but it was no surprise when it was finally Stortford that managed to register a five-pointer. The score was created by one of many telling surges by number 8 and captain, Mark McCraith who breached the first-line defence, to pass on to fellow back rower, Maehe Austin for him to force his way over for the only try of the game. Coleman duly added the conversion to produce the final 22-0 score line.
Jersey 25 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 15
The collective hoards of Stortfordites who made the long trip to Jersey to watch our boys take on the runaway league leaders on their own patch, probably did so more in hope than expectation. But tonight as the players and supporters enjoy whatever delights of the Channel island has to offer, the overwhelming feeling is one of 'what might have been' & pride rather than resignation.
Our team did themselves and the club proud with an outstanding display against a team who are undoubtedly one of the strongest ever to grace this level of rugby. Tom Coleman kicked a penalty in the 3rd minute and less than 10 minutes later it was 10-0 to us after Jimmy Rea scooted over the whitewash and Tom converted. Jersey landed a penalty of their own before the break to leave us 10-3 up at the break. Ten minutes into the second half Marcus Cattell was yellow carded but despite being a man short - 5 minutes later we extended our lead to 15-3 when Jimmy Rea once again showed the home side a clean pair of heels. So with 55 minutes gone our travellers were dreaming of a famous and unlikely victory.
Regrettably though another yellow card, this time for Maehe Austin resulted in us again being reduced to 14 men and a team as good as Jersey need no invitation to take full advantage of such a situation and true to form they began to hit their straps and exploit the gaps to eventually run out winners by 25-15.
So frustration at losing the game but also disappointment that such a magnificent performance did not even garner the bonus point it so richly deserved. Not quite nothing to show for the journey though as I know those that made the trip thoroughly enjoyed watching their team run the islanders so close and the performance will give the squad a huge confidence boost ahead of the derby game at Hertford next weekend.
Hertford 24 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 3
It would have been too much to expect another fantastic away performance this week after the heights reached on Jersey last week and, sure enough, although the team battled hard throughout, the crucial cutting edge was lacking.
To be fair to Hertford, they were clearly highly motivated for this local derby and determined to avoid conceding “the double” to Stortford. They came out hard from the start, with their tight forwards clearly on top in early exchanges. Despite some stubborn defence by the visitors, it was no surprise when, after 10 minutes the home side used the local topography to maximum effect, getting so much momentum into a driving maul down the hollow in the twenty two area that they shoved their way all the way over the line and duly converted for a 7-0 lead. Hertford retained the upper hand and, after a succession of quickly recycled balls after around 25 minutes of play, a gap suddenly opened in midfield for the Hertford 15 to skate through for another try close to the posts, which was duly converted.
Stortford were not overwhelmed, however, and came back with some spirited play of their own. They threatened via a number of breaks in the backs and eventually, Jimmy Rea burst through well inside the Stortford half and ran some 50 metres, only to find that support was in short supply. Having drawn the last defender, he attempted to reach centre, Nick Harris with a very long pass, which just failed to reach its target. Stortford came back again and this time managed, by virtue of better support and a bit of sustained pressure to win a kickable penalty. Unfortunately, the decision was taken to go for 5 points and a turnover in midfield led to an opening down the blindside, which the home left winger and number 8 exploited ruthlessly with an interchange of passes that took them 50 metres for yet another try and a half-time lead of 19-0.
Stortford started the second half with renewed vigour and soon forced a penalty inside the Hertford half, which Tom Coleman duly kicked. There then followed a period of Stortford pressure during which, a golden try-scoring opportunity went begging when an inside pass to Harris would almost certainly have brought a try under the posts, but the ball was given instead to support on the outside, where there was defensive cover. Even so, a try could well have ensued from the resultant position on the home line, but for a clever Hertford hand into a ruck on the referee's blindside, which brought an undeserved turnover.
The game was effectively finished, however a few minutes later, when a poor Stortford pass in midfield turned over possession and Hertford, once again showed tremendous patience and considerable skill in going through perhaps a dozen phases, usually producing quick ball and eventually the pressure was made to tell via a shrewd cross field kick to the left winger who took full advantage of the room offered him on the outside to dive over for a bonus point-winning 4th try.
This concluded the scoring, although, following a very lengthy break for a potentially serious head injury to a Hertford player, Stortford did dominate possession in the final quarter but by then the game was well and truly up.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 49 Diss 24
Right from the start the home side exerted considerable pressure and only a forward pass deprived Marcus Cattell of a try after 2 minutes. Fortunately, advantage was being played for an earlier penalty offence and Tom Coleman duly converted for three points, as he did again 8 minutes later, when Diss were penalised for preventing release in the tackle.
Stortford's superiority was finally rewarded with the try it deserved after 13 minutes, when Jimmy Rea capitalised on quickly recycled ball and a potential overlap to dummy his way over. Coleman added the 2 points. Twelve minutes later and the home side scored arguably the best try of what was to prove a high-scoring game. Marcus Cattell had set up position in the Diss 22 via a good break in midfield and, when the visitors were penalised at the breakdown, Coleman spurned the 3 points to drop a pinpoint crosskick in the hands of Maehe Austin who touched down for another converted try. Ten minutes later, stubborn Stortford defence against a sustained period of pressure on their line from the Diss forwards produced a knock-on over the try line and a long 22 dropout by Coleman and pressure on the Diss defence produced a penalty, which Coleman again converted. After 40 minutes, the visitors' dogged forward play finally was made to count and, after a period of sustained pressure, their No 8 and Captain forced his way over for a try under the posts. Stortford were not finished, however and almost straight from the kick-off recovered the ball for scrumhalf, Arran Mahoney to score wide out and Coleman, once again converted.
The second half, unfortunately did not live up to the standards set in the first half and, despite Diss's repeated offences – mostly at the breakdown – resulting in 4 yellow cards for the visitors, offset by a late card for a Stortford second row late on - Stortford managed to edge the second half by only 19-17. Having scored 2 further tries within 10 minutes of the restart, via Nick Harris (following a good break out of defence and kick ahead by Jimmy Rea) and Richie McMillan ( after a long pass from Mahoney), Stortford seemed to relax. Diss, who fought stubbornly throughout, needed no second invitation and their forwards, keeping the ball tight for phase after phase scored 2 unconverted tries, despite being short handed. Stortford finally managed to make their numerical advantage pay with some 5 minutes of the game left, when skipper, Mark McCraith picked up from the back of a surging scrum to touch down and register another 7 points, with Coleman's help with the conversion. There was sufficient time left, however, for Diss to register their 4th, bonus point-winning try after another period of sustained forward pressure on the Stortford line led to a converted try, bringing the final score to 49-24.
Old Albanians 34 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 15
It was clear from the early exchanges in this local derby at St Albans that Stortford were going to struggle against OAs' huge pack – and particularly huge front row. Had it not been for much sturdy defending by the visitors and, it has to be said, some dreadful handling at times by the home team, the game would have been over by half time. As it was, however, it was only a serious lapse in the Stortford defence after about 5 minutes, when several players failed to stop the behemoth that was the home tight-head prop from trundling under the posts from about 15 metres out, that prevented the first half being drawn. OAs reached their halfway total of 15 points via a Richard Gregg penalty and a further try from a rolling maul, which he could not convert from out wide. In the meantime, Stortford had scored an excellent try by wing, Joe Clarke after Mark McCraith had picked up one of many bad balls at the back of their retreating scrum to feed Tom Coleman who made a half break, fed Nick Harris to burst through the defensive line, draw the fullback and set Clarke free to run in from some 30 metres out. Coleman's conversion attempt from near the touchline came back off the far upright. The only other score was a Coleman penalty to take the score at the break to 15-8.
The second half started as badly as the first and another burst by the OAs tight-head prop inside the visitors' 22 led to another try under the posts by a supporting player. Stortford fought back bravely, though and, as the home pack showed signs of tiring the visitors were able to gain a much more equal share of possession – albeit much of it again on the retreat. It was, therefore particularly satisfying for Stortford's gritty pack, when their second try came from an excellent driving maul from a lineout in which the home side's extra bulk was more than nullified by good technique by the Stortford eight. Coleman converted from wide out to bring the visitors again within 7 points. OAs then reasserted themselves for a spell and created gaps in Stortford's defence via good breaks by their outside centre and scrumhalf, each of which produced tries for supporting forwards. Gregg managed to convert one to produce the final score line of 34-15. The margin might well have been closer, however, with a Stortford try having been disallowed for a highly dubious offside decision, when centre, Marcus Cattell put a beautifully judged chip kick through for winger Ed Merrivale to chase from what looked like a clearly onside position to gather and touch-down. It was also the visitors that finished the game with a spell of sustained pressure on the home try line, but were unable to quite get across the line, despite a number of thrusts being held up inches short.
All in all, this was a battling display by an injury-hit Stortford side against very strong opposition.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 31 Tring 5
The visitors from Tring were clearly determined to battle all the way, in an effort to win desperately needed league points to move them further away from the relegation zone, from which only 2 points currently separate them. The very wet and muddy conditions favoured their spoiling game and Stortford were unable initially to sustain any pressure. It was 25 minutes before the first score was registered and it was Tring that broke the deadlock, managing to recycle the ball a number of times and forcing their way over for a try wide out from a driving maul.
This breakthrough seemed to shake up the home side who quickly established position in the visitors' half, forcing a penalty for killing the ball at a ruck, which Tom Coleman duly converted. Only a couple of minutes later, Stortford were again on the attack and a decisive break by Arran Mahoney put Tring well and truly on the back foot. Coleman duly exploited the situation with a well-judged crosskick, which left full-back, Jimmy Rea all the time in the world to touch down. This finished the first half scoring, leaving Stortford with a narrow 3 point lead.
The home coaches clearly made good use of the half time break, as the home side came out committed to a game plan based on closer support for forward drives and moving resultant possession quickly among the backs. The new approach brought its first reward after 10 minutes when a lineout steal by skipper Mark McCraith 10 metres from the visitors' line was moved quickly to the centres, where Marcus Cattell made a powerful thrust and the resultant good ball was moved quickly to the left wing, where Jimmy Rea was able to step in and force his way over the try line. Eight minutes later, more Stortford pressure saw right winger, Ed Merrivale held up over the try line, only for the ball from the resultant scrum to be swung quickly to the opposite flank, where Joe Clarke squeezed over for the try. The fourth, bonus point-earning try also went to Clarke, who had made a tremendous break and run some thirty metres to just short of the line, but was on hand to dab down when good ball was won from the resulting ruck. A few minutes later, Tom Coleman converted a penalty kick for an offence at a breakdown to bring the score to 26-5. The final score came only a couple of minutes from time, when flanker, Maehe Austin forced his way over the line from the back of yet another powerful mauling drive.
After a faltering start to the game, Stortford's powerful second half performance fully merited the 31-5 victory against very determined opposition
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 49 Hayward's Heath 0
For the second successive week, Stortford hosted a side struggling in the league, this time in the shape of bottom-placed Hayward’s Heath. Despite suffering from serious injury problems, the visitors set out their stall from the outset to make life difficult for their opposition. As a result, although Stortford enjoyed territorial advantage in the early stages, it was 15 minutes before they registered the first score in the shape of a Tom Coleman penalty for offside.
It was another quarter of an hour before the next score and this again fell to the home team when their dominance at the set-piece via, first of all a lineout steal from a Heath throw, followed by a heel against the head at a tight scrum set up the position for prop, Max Malkin to crash over for a try under the posts, which Tom Coleman duly converted. Stortford were now getting well on top and it was almost directly from the drop out that a penalty for killing the ball at the breakdown was forced out of the visitors. This produced not only 3 points from Coleman's successful kick, but also brought a yellow card for one of the visiting locks. The one man advantage proved to be absolutely crucial and it was only 6 minutes before winger, Ed Merrivale scored the next try, following good interplay amongst the backs, orchestrated by fly half, Coleman. Straight from the resultant drop-out, which was well taken by Stortford, the ball was fed to No 8, Maehe Austin who committed the outside centre, before feeding outside centre, Jimmy Rea into acres of space. As a specialist fullback, Rea took full advantage of the room provided and, bursting through the defensive line ran in an outstanding try from some 60 metres. Coleman converted to take the score to 25-0. The momentum was now totally with the home side and possession was soon re-established on the Heath Line. Stortford's now dominant pack drove a set scrum, from which Austin picked up and drove over the line for the fourth, bonus-point winning try, which Coleman duly converted for a 32-0 half-time score line.
The start of the second half was again rather scrappy and it took a solo try from Tom Coleman, weaving his way some 30 metres through the visitors' defence to register the next score wide out on the right. To be fair, had Rea not made a hash of fielding a pinpoint cross kick from Coleman seconds earlier over the Heath line, the fly half would not have had the chance to demonstrate his running skills to such telling effect! The tempo of the game had now slowed a little and it was 10 minutes before the next try to Stortford, which fell to flanker Richard Gill after a smart interchange of passes at close quarters between forwards and backs. The final try of the game was also scored by Gill who took full advantage of confusion caused at the back of another strong Stortford maul to dance over almost untouched. Coleman converted to bring the final score to 49-0.
A totally convincing win, but Stortford can expect significantly stiffer opposition next week at Sutton & Epsom, who are unlikely to suffer the same kind of injury problems that Hayward’s Heath had to cope with today
Sutton & Epsom 16 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 25
Stortford got off to a flying start to this away fixture against struggling Sutton and after 5 minutes Mark McCraith peeled off the back of a lineout to set up a maul, from which prop, Max Malkin was driven over for his second try in consecutive games. Fly half, Tom Coleman duly converted. Ten minutes later and Stortford doubled their lead when good work in midfield by Kiwis, Maehe Austin and Hamish Irving set fullback, Jimmy Rea free to rum in a tremendous try from the 22.
Sutton got onto the scoreboard after 34 minutes when fly half and captain, Steve Munford kicked a penalty awarded for a rather dubious a decision of a high tackle. The visitors continued to dominate, but it was well into first half injury time before the next score came, when a good long pass from Coleman gave Rea enough space for his pace to take him over for his second try and a half time score line of 3-19.
The second half was a pretty drab affair, with Stortford not really managing to get going again. They conceded three points from a penalty for a scrum offence after 12 minutes but really lost the initiative after 20 minutes when they failed to control possession after winning their own scrum on halfway and merely shuffled bad ball out towards the wing, which the Sutton right winger seized upon and almost made the try line himself. It took a great chase by Joe Clarke to haul him down but scrum half, Arran Mahoney was immediately penalised and yellow-carded for killing the ball and the home side managed to drive over for a try from the resultant penalty/lineout. Stortford rallied briefly and Coleman kicked a penalty a couple of minutes later, when a home player was also penalised for killing the ball at the breakdown. Another two minutes, however, saw the visitors down to 13 men, when Rea, standing in for Mahoney at scrum half was himself yellow-carded for reckless use of the boot. Munford poured salt in the Stortford wound by kicking the resultant penalty to bring the score to 16-22. Shaken into life by the threat of losing a game which they should have had well won, the Stortford pack proceeded to take control and, running through phase after phase of tight play, not only saw out the remaining time on the yellow cards, but managed to win a penalty at a tight scrum, which Coleman converted for a final score line of 16-25.
It's a long way to Portsmouth next week and Stortford will be looking to produce a much more convincing performance against a side who will be boosted by their big win today against fellow strugglers, Hayward’s Heath.
Portsmouth 6 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 24
Almost a mirror image of last week's game at Sutton, Stortford today got off to an error-strewn start but improved as the game went on. Conditions were admittedly far from ideal, with a steady drizzle falling for much of the game and the wind blowing off the Solent proving troublesome. In the first half, though the visitors failed to adjust to the conditions and repeatedly turned ball over trying to force the game. They, nevertheless, were rarely in trouble and, although going 3-0 behind after 5 minutes when penalised for offside, levelled the scores within 10 minutes when Tom Coleman kicked a penalty for killing the ball at a breakdown. The rest of the first half was pretty scrappy and the deadlock was broken only on the stroke of half time, when Maehe Austin forced his way over for a try from the back of a scrum taken against the head. The forwards had earned this score, having, for the first time in the game run through a series of phases and made 30 metres to the home try-line, before knocking on in the tackle. Coleman converted to take the half time score to 3-10.
Stortford started the second half well, but then seemed to relax and some poor kicking gave Portsmouth a number of opportunities to run the ball back and their forwards managed to put together a couple of good drives. 17 minutes into the half their efforts were rewarded with a penalty for an illegal tackle in the centre, which their fly half kicked to take the score to 6-10. This seemed to shake the visitors and they proceeded to put together by far the best rugby of the game, with forwards driving up the middle and setting up good ball, which the backs put to good use. The first product of this was a try in the left corner by winger, Ed Merrivale after a sweeping move involving virtually the whole team. Coleman converted superbly and proceeded, after 5 minutes to set up a second try for Merrivale after more good driving play from the pack. Coleman once again converted from the touchline.
Stortford pressed briefly for a 4th try for a bonus point, but were unable to grasp a couple of reasonable opportunities as Portsmouth, battling to the end, fought back bravely.
Bishops Stortford 1st XV 50 Basingstoke 3
After 4 successive wins, Stortford faced this final home game of the season against a Basingstoke side one place and 2 points ahead of us with some optimism, despite the defeat suffered in the reverse fixture before Christmas. Urged on by a record lunch attendance of 173 and cheered onto the pitch by the 50 plus Minis who had played a pre-match demonstration game, the home players were on the front foot from the word go, but it took 15 minutes before their all round superiority was finally made to count with Jimmy Rea scoring a try from 20 metres out after Tom Coleman created the space with a well-judged cut out pass. The conversion by Coleman took the score to 7-0, but the home side was unable to capitalise on a number of further scoring chances and it was Basingstoke who registered the next score via a penalty after 30 minutes, when a home player failed to roll away after making a tackle. At this stage it looked as if the visitors' abrasive approach might be sufficient to counter Stortford's technical advantage in virtually every aspect of the game but any home nerves were quickly settled when Coleman kicked a penalty 3 minutes later for another offence at the breakdown to restore the 7 point lead.
The score remained 10-3 at half time, but it was only 5 minutes into the second half when, perhaps the decisive score of the game was registered by home winger, Harry Marner touching down from a Coleman cross kick that stood on its end and initially eluded Jimmy Rea. Coleman's conversion took the score to 17-3. Eight minutes later and Rea registered his now customary try after Sam Coleman fielded a speculative Basingstoke kick and gave his fullback sufficient space for his burning pace to see him round the remaining defence. Coleman, once again converted. It was another 8 minutes before the next home score, when Nick Harris touched down for the bonus point-winning fourth try after a cunning “foot pass” from Marcus Cattell found Maehe Austin who again provided enough room for the speedy centre to burst through the final defensive line. Coleman's conversion took the score to 31-3. Stortford were now totally dominant and six minutes later Marner scored his second try after Harris made a telling break down the right and timed his pass perfectly to leave the winger with an open line. Coleman again converted. It was only another 6 minutes before Rea scored his second try when his own break from another ill-directed Basingstoke kick found support from substitute winger, Ed Merrivale who selflessly committed the remaining defence before returning the ball to the full back who touched down out wide. The final score came some 5 minutes later, when one of many good bursts up the middle from second row, Hamish Irving set number 7, Richard Gill free in the visitors' 22 for a try under the posts. Coleman having gone off a little earlier to rest a tight hamstring, the conversion this time was made by Cattell to take the final score to 50-3.
After achieving so impressively their 5th win in a row, Stortford will travel with some confidence next week, even though the opposition is Bracknell, who lie 4th in the league but with games in hand on 3rd-placed Hertford. There is no doubt, therefore, that they will present a significantly tougher challenge than those most recently faced.
Bracknell 25 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 28
What a tremendous performance! Playing up the slope and into the breeze in the first half, it seemed that Stortford had done well to prevent Bracknell from scoring minutes, during which the two sides looked pretty well matched. At this stage, though, the home side broke the deadlock with a penalty by centre and Captain, Nowak, when the visitors were penalised for not releasing at the tackle. Stortford fought back strongly, however, and 6 minutes later registered the first try, when hooker, Declan Caulfield clinically robbed one of the Bracknell back row at the end of a home lineout in their own 22 and Tom Coleman fed centre, Marcus Cattell to crash through the defensive line to touch down under the posts. Coleman duly converted. The balance swung further in Stortford's favour 3 minutes later, when a home prop was yellow-carded for stamping on the fringe of one of their few attacking rucks. The resultant penalty saw the visitors push their opponents back and it took only 3 minutes before they registered another score, with fullback Jimmy Rea taking an inside switch from Coleman on halfway to burst through the first line of defence and his speed was then enough to see him round the fullback and touch down for a try converted again by Coleman. Even when the carded player returned, though, Stortford maintained the upper hand and a telling thrust up the middle by prop, Max Malkin laid the platform for quick ball which found second row, Tom McCraith in the centre and he broke the final defence before feeding outside centre, Nick Harris for yet another try, impressively converted by Coleman from the touchline. The first half action still wasn't over and Bracknell drove back powerfully, forcing a series of penalties at breakdowns, culminating in a yellow card for Stortford second row, Hamish Irving and a penalty under the posts, which Nowak kicked to take the halftime score to 6-21.
Starting the second half with 14 men, Stortford were reduced after 9 minutes to 13, when Tom McCraith was also yellow-carded for a suspected hand in the ruck. Even though Irving soon returned to the field of play, the side were now facing a period of 19 successive minutes short-handed and it was a credit to their battling spirit that they conceded only one score during this period, when the Bracknell right wing finished off a sweeping move by touching down out wide. The score was taken to 13-21 by Nowak's conversion. Shortly after the visitors were restored to 15 men, they managed to mount virtually their first attack of the half and good drives up the middle by skipper, Mark McCraith and scrumhalf, Sam Whiffen set up a maul on the home line, from which prop, Richie McMillan plunged over under the posts. Coleman's “routine” conversion widened the lead to 15 points again. Visiting supporters may have thought that they could relax a little at that stage, but the balance of the game swung again only a minute later, when an admittedly over-robust McMillan tackle was adjudged by the referee to have constituted a spear tackle, meriting a red card with a quarter of an hour still to go. Bracknell needed no second invitation to pick up their game and, with left winger, McKenzie now posing a major threat whenever in possession, the side started to put together some impressive drives. The 14 visiting players were forced onto the defensive and it took some heroic tackling by the whole side to hold the attacks at bay for almost 10 minutes, but then, with several minutes left to play Bracknell notched their second try, which Nowak again converted to bring the margin down to 8 points. There followed a frantic final spell, with the home side continuing to hammer away at Stortford's defence, but more determined tackling kept them out until the final minute of injury time, when their scrum-half, Daniel Ap Dafydd squeezed over for a try wide on the left. Nowak was unable to convert and the final whistle went without allowing the game to be restarted.
This was a tremendous performance against a side threatening to pip Hertford to third place in the league. The quality of the rugby Stortford played when at full strength and the fantastic spirit they showed, when they weren't combined to give the many travelling supporters a great afternoon.
Dorking 18 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 38
The post-lunch speeches were still going on when Stortford registered the first score of the day, when second row, Hamish Irving went over for a try, rounding off a spell of sustained pressure by the visitors. Coleman converted and then, five minutes later widened the lead to 10 points with a penalty from the halfway line, when a Dorking defender strayed offside. The home side struck back 8 minutes later with a penalty of their own for offside, kicked by their own fly half, but this was cancelled out after 4 minutes by another Coleman penalty – again for offside. Within a minute, however, Dorking were right back in the game, when their fullback fielded a speculative Stortford kick and chipped into a huge gap, which the visitors had left behind their three-quarters, he then gathered a friendly bounce and brushed through a tackle to set up his right winger for a try, which was duly converted by their 10. With the first half running out and the breeze and slope to be in the home side's favour in the second half, pressure was mounting on Stortford, which was only slightly relieved after 29 minutes by another Coleman penalty for offside. The situation was further improved, though, after 40 minutes, when a great break by Mark McCraith was well supported by Hamish Irving, who fed the ball inside for Tom Coleman to run in a try under the posts, which he duly converted. First half scoring was not over, however, and Dorking kicked another penalty for not releasing at the tackle after their forwards had won good ball from the dropout.
When Dorking eventually re-emerged into the warm sunshine from their changing room after the halftime break, the feeling was that a ten point deficit was not considered by them to be by any means insurmountable. Any such confidence was, however, soon shaken when, after 5 minutes, Stortford scored a tremendous try. Patient play by forwards and backs running through a number of phases set up a two on two with plenty of space on the right and fullback, Jimmy Rea exploited this clinically, dummying the pass and bursting between the two defenders to touch down near to the posts for an easy conversion by Coleman. Dorking fought back hard yet again, though and, spurning a couple of easy three point opportunities, set up a succession of scrums on the visitors' five metre line. Tigerish defence from Stortford held out three very well organised drives from the Dorking forwards, but the last one gave rise to a yellow card for Hamish Irving, with the home side still camped on the Stortford line. The visitors were undaunted, though and more determined defending forced a scrum in their favour, from which, despite the one man disadvantage they were able to make a good clearance. More controlled rugby by Stortford kept Dorking at bay for another 5 minutes, when the pressure was further relieved via a yellow card for Dorking's substitute back-row for a late tackle on Jimmy Rea. Coleman kicked the resulting penalty to take the score to 13-33, but Stortford were unable to take more advantage of the extra man. The next score, in fact went to Dorking, when their fullback took clever advantage of a visiting forward covering in the centre to run round him for a try. Stortford finished with another spell on the offensive, including a surging run by substitute winger, Oliver Stigwood deep into the Dorking 22. From that position and, with only seconds remaining, it was their turn to spurn an easy three points, when Coleman took a quick tap under the Dorking posts and dropped a cross kick onto the try line out wide, where winger Harry Marner leapt to gather over his opposite number and had then only to flop down for the bonus-point-winning try, taking the final score to 18-38.
Fifth position in the league represents by far Stortford's best finish in our 7 years at this very competitive level and congratulations to all the players and coaches, who have brought this about over a long and tough season. As skipper Mark McCraith commented as he left the pitch, however, this is not the end of our season. The next hurdle is the County Cup semi-final at Letchworth in 2 Saturday's time and, given a successful outcome there, a probable rematch with OAs in the Final the following Sunday awaits!
Letchworth 19 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 66
Having beaten Letchworth in last year's Cup only through a last-minute try, Stortford were clearly determined not to take this game too lightly and two converted tries within the first 10 minutes set them well on the way. The first came after 5 minutes, when Marcus Cattell weaved his way some thirty or forty yards up the middle of the pitch before finding co-centre, Nick Harris in wide support, who ran in the try, duly converted by Tom Coleman. Four minutes later, a break down the blindside, involving forwards, Hamish Irving and Richard Gill put winger Joe Clarke into a bit of space and he was able to follow up his own chip ahead and touch-down. Coleman, once again converted and further extended the lead three minutes later by kicking a penalty, when Letchworth failed to release at a tackle. The home side refused to back off, however and within a further three minutes they had registered their own first try when, after a short period of pressure, they took advantage of a slip by a Stortford midfield player to cross the line and their scrumhalf duly added the 2 points. There followed a short lull in the scoring before Stortford, on 30 minutes registered another try, when skipper, Mark McCraith made a good break up the centre and fellow- back row, Maehe Austin then took out the last two tacklers to set winger, Harry Marner free to score. Coleman again converted. The next try also fell to Marner, when he snapped up a heavily-sliced drop-goal attempt by Cattell, which became a perfect crosskick! Coleman converted once more, as he did seven minutes later when Mark McCraith scored the final try of the half, breaking off the back of a good 5 metre scrum, after prop, Max Malkin had been held up over the line following a strong individual drive.
Despite a 38-7 halftime deficit, Letchworth came out fighting and scored the first try of the half, when their lively number 20 stepped through a number of Stortford tackles to score from long range. Their number 9 converted. Stortford were then reduced to 14 men, when Austin was singled out for a yellow-card, after a fracas, involving most of the players from both sides. Letchworth quickly took advantage, registering another good try, scored by their substitute flanker, after a good break down the short side. Jimmy Rea was then yellow-carded for a deemed late tackle in the build-up to the try, but this seemed to serve only to fire up his teammates and Hamish Irving scored a try some 5 minutes later, after Gill had set up good possession in midfield. Coleman again converted to take the score to 19-45 and the margin was widened by a further 7 points 12 minutes later, when Mark McCraith touched down for the second time, after prop, Ben Millard had stripped the ball from a home forward and Harris and Coleman combined to give their captain a free run to the line. Seven minutes later, a further converted try was registered for the visitors, when Harris ran in from halfway for his third try, after Letchworth had lost possession. Coleman proved up to the challenge of a touchline conversion, which his centre decided he needed! The scoring was completed 3 minutes later with a try by Rea following a break by Harris and Coleman maintained his 100% conversion record to take the closing score to 19-66.
Although, clearly up against it from the word go, Letchworth showed tremendous spirit throughout the game - and not inconsiderable skills on occasions to make a real contest of the tie. In so doing they gave the many supporters of both sides a very enjoyable afternoon – and a chance to spend lots of money at the bar! Supporters of Tring might well be given pause for thought on an opportunity lost to have had a similar go at OAs in the other Semi.
OA's 37 Bishops Stortford 1st XV 19
Facing a strong Old Albanians side, fresh from their victory in the League Play-offs, Stortford started with great determination and took the lead after five minutes with a penalty by Tom Coleman after OAs killed the ball at a breakdown under their posts. The position had been set up, when Mark McCraith blocked an attempted grubber kick by one of the OAs' backs and it was an almost mirror situation, 6 minutes later that led to an opening try by OAs. When Stortford were unable to control the resultant bouncing ball and were forced to concede a penalty, their opponents opted to go for touch, instead of goal and were able to drive over from the 5 metre lineout and, with the wind behind, fly-half, Gregg kicked the conversion. OAs also registered the next score with a good try by their 12 after their fullback had made a telling incursion into the backline. Gregg again converted to take the score to 3-14. Stortford fought back well, though and with better than parity in possession terms, they were able to drive the opposition back up the pitch. After 30 minutes their endeavour got its reward, when Tom Coleman dummied his way over the try line from 15 metres out, capitalising on a position created by a quickly tapped penalty by Sam Whiffen, taken on well by Maehe Austin and Mark McCraith and Whiffen again. The conversion into the wind drifted just wide of the posts. The game was almost into first half injury time, when OAs scored their 3rd try after hooker, Botterman seized very quickly on a loose tap-back from a Stortford lineout near their own 22 and under pressure fed a fellow forward, who crashed over. The scoring was not finished for the half, though and Coleman was able to kick a well deserved penalty, as Stortford pushed OAs back onto their own line and Paul Gustard was penalised for a ruck offence. This was not his first indiscretion – nor even the first spotted by an alert referee! - So he was consigned to the sin bin for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Despite the one man disadvantage, OAs started the second period confidently and, after running through several phases of good, forceful rugby, were able to win a penalty at a set scrum, which Gregg kicked to extend their lead to 11-22, some 3 minutes into the half. Five minutes later, saw Stortford on the scoreboard once again, when Coleman registered his second try, again supporting a quickly taken tap, this time from a free-kick for a scrum offence. OAs were soon back to full strength and it took barely a couple of minutes for the returning Gustard to make his mark, running in a try after his side had made good ground via one of many penalties given in the second half for offences by Stortford in the front row of scrums. This took the score to 16-27 and Gregg widened the margin to 14 points some 10 minutes later with a well-taken drop-goal. This score was cancelled out only 2 minutes later, when Coleman kicked a penalty for an offence at a breakdown. Stortford were finding it increasingly difficult to get their hands on the ball, though, as OAs dominated the set pieces and the reshuffling of the backline caused by the loss of strong centre, Marcus Cattell did nothing to help the Stortford cause. It was no surprise, therefore that it was OAs that closed out the scoring in the 40th minute of the half when a penalty try was awarded, after the Stortford scrum crumbled in front of their own posts.
The final 19-37 score line was probably a fair reflection of the overall balance of play, but it could have been a different story, had Stortford been able to maintain in the second half, when the wind was in their favour, the kind of even share of possession that they'd won in the first period. This was a spirited showing by a clearly very determined and committed team which, despite the loss, augurs well for next season.
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