After a difficult week for selection the mist finally cleared for the coaching team about 6pm on Saturday night. The arrival of Sunday unfortunately brought a mist of its own, at one stage seeing across to the opposite touchline started to prove difficult. The still eeriness added to the atmosphere as did the changing room in its own special way - very Halloween. Clearly the team were unfazed by the atmosphere or Royston for that matter as within minutes of the kick off Eddie Brown lead by Captains example with an excellent run from his own half and over for the first of his four tries, the second at 21 minutes and the third just at half time and the fourth following in the second.

Royston responded with three tries in the first half but the excellent team play from the Stortford Pack, led by Tom Banks as Vice-Captain, ensured they were going to have the upper hand. Tom clearly wasn’t going to let the Captain have all the glory and ran in two of his own tries, with strong upright running feeding off great forward performance at the breakdown.

The game continued a pace and the big tackles from the blues continued to interrupt Royston’s progression, Alfie Lawrence, Thomas Williams and Finley Clarke are just three to mention who set Royston’s attack back metres. Undeterred Royston managed to run in tries before half time. Tom’s example stirred the rest of the back row and both Finley Clarke and on his debut Michael Donovan scored with help from the pack and their own hard work. The hard work done by the pack in particular the front five is often done unnoticed and deep out of sight in mauls, scums and rucks. Our front five didn’t just hold their ground in the scrum but took some back too. Both props Andrew Stevens and Ben Wilson with excellent foot work by Harrison Boulter demolished Royston’s scrum by half time and Matt Hyne and Alfie Lawrence took on Royston with tackles and strong running ensuring phase after phase of possession.

The game merged into 50 minutes of an exhilarating running rugby try fest finally ending in a very cheeky but well worked piece of loose play that gave the backs a running line that put Paul Mafiamba over for his first try of the day. On a point of history for the squad, we think Paul is the first player to score tries in two games back to back in one day, festivals excluded. Well done Paul!
There were great runs too from the backs Will Dufour and Michael Lilliwhite linking in with George Anderson on the wing and was that Andrew Stevens I saw being taken out just metres from the try line? Having taken the ball from yet another well worked forwards move and scattering the opposition Andrew was very unlucky not to score. Conversions were made by both Michael and Luke.
The game ended 46 – 34. A score line that some may say flattered Royston. However they worked hard and kept Stortford on their guard at the breakdown and at times they had good line speed. The 9 & 10 combination of Eddie Brown and Luke Wharton worked well setting up lots of open running and prevented many of Royston’s attacks. Unfortunately as always with scoring tries, it follows the opposition tends to comes straight back at you and Stortford let them in more than once. That does not take away anything from the excellent team work, determination, hard work and great rugby that won the day for Stortford. That’s just rugby!!!

Special thanks have to go to Harrison Boulter and Finley Clarke who filled the gaps at hooker and back row, excellent performances from both. And of course thanks also to the 4 amigos who arrived early for the A game and played for exactly 12.5 minutes each to ensure their mates had a full side and subs; Paul Mafiamba ( Now officially a Historical Legend), Connor Bullock, Nathan Bowler and Oscar Russell.

What a great day, if only the clocks went back an hour every Saturday that extra hours sleep seems to work wonders or was the hard effort in training the last few weeks???