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Bishop’s Stortford end three-game losing run with 27-12 win at Sedgley Park in National 1

10:43, 07 October 2024

Bishop’s Stortford convincingly ended their three-game losing run with a 27-12 victory at Sedgley Park in National 1 on Saturday (October 5).

Tom Coleman’s side, who have climbed above the Tigers into ninth place, tasted success for the first time since the opening day.

Stortford are now preparing to entertain table-topping Rams, who have a 100% record, at Silver Leys this Saturday (October 12).

The home side were given every opportunity to start on the front foot as the first four penalties went their way, but Stortford’s aggressive line speed and tackling neutralised any threat.

The visitors were much more effective in possession, using two successive penalties of their own to take them to a five-metre lineout from which a powerful driving maul drove Alex Rayment over the line for an opening try.

Mike Cooke’s conversion attempt went narrowly wide, but he was successful with an even more difficult kick after 30 minutes when Will Rogers touched down from another successful five-metre lineout drill.

Bishop's Stortford in action at Sedgley Park. Picture: @SedgleyTigers on X
Bishop's Stortford in action at Sedgley Park. Picture: @SedgleyTigers on X

Frequent penalties and occasional handling errors by both sides made for a bit of a stop-start game, though Stortford generally enjoyed a clear edge.

With 35 minutes gone, Cooke stretched the lead to 15 points with a goal from just inside the Tigers’ half after one of many tackle penalties awarded.

The home side never gave up and countered aggressively as half time beckoned and it took a great cover tackle from Austin Pope on the Stortford line to dislodge the ball for a knock-on to prevent a Tigers try.

The visitors started the second period strongly and, after Tom Mills won a well-judged box kick to set up position well inside home territory, Charlie Briers was able to snipe over from the base of a try-line ruck.

Cooke converted to establish a commanding lead, but momentum was soon lost when an attacking lineout was lost and was followed by two penalty concessions in quick succession to give the home side a five-metre lineout. Stortford’s forwards defended the initial drive well, but an unconverted try was scored by Tigers on 50 minutes after a couple more phases, with a long, hail-Mary pass bouncing into the left wing’s hands.

With the breeze in their favour and playing with a greater sense of urgency, the home side took full advantage of two more successive penalties to set up another five-metre lineout with an hour gone and, once again, were able to crash over for a converted try a couple of phases later.

A breakdown penalty in Stortford’s favour set up an attacking lineout and, although the resultant driving maul was stopped short of the line, a home player received a yellow card for side entry and Tristan Smith was able to crash over from the resultant lineout.

Cooke’s conversion attempt bounced out off the far post before the visitors, who ended with 14 men following a yellow card to Oli Moffitt, resisted some late pressure.

Stortford: Hayes, Mills, Biard, Pope, Gilham, Cooke, Briers; Hill, Rayment, Peck, Ferguson, H Charter, Langworthy, Jones, Rogers. Replacements: Moffitt, Smith, T Charter, Lane, Bolton.

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