CHINNOR battled well at a sun-soaked Silver Leys, but Bishop’s Stortford flourished as they claimed victory in an entertaining encounter.

Ten tries were scored on a scorching Easter weekend, but we ultimately headed back to Oxfordshire with the solitary bonus-point and sore bodies from a rock-hard pitch.

In truth, Stortford looked like they were having fun in the sun, with scrum-half Sam Bryan and wing Josh Stannard outstanding all game, as their unpredictable style brought an element of chaos to the fixture.

Leading 19-13 after 42 minutes, we were well positioned to push on for back-to-back bonus-point victories, but quick-tap penalties, rapid counters and three tries in the space of ten second-half minutes proved our undoing.

It was certainly not all doom and gloom as Sam Yawawaya again shone at 12, while Keston Lines, Mark Darlington and Bradley Harewood – on his first start – led from the front as we scrummaged well. Nick Smith, Josh Hodson, Fred Tuilagi and Soane Tonga’uiha were our try-scorers as we claimed the four-try bonus point heading into next Friday’s derby at home to Rams.

Four changes – two positional – were made from the side which impressively beat Rosslyn Park the previous week. Homegrown prop Harewood started at tighthead, with Max Titchener at fly-half, while Kieran Goss and Jason Worrall swapped wings.

On the bench, young lock Dan Thomas was set for his First XV debut after shining for our Falcons all season and he was rewarded with a late substitute appearance.

Maybe there was an early indication that it was not to be our day when top try-scorer Goss was forced off in the third minute with a lower back injury. He was replaced by Hodson and the winger made an immediate impact, making a crucial tackle on James Ayrton as the centre looked to be heading towards the try-line following a swift counter.

It was a warning shot and a couple of minutes later Stortford took the lead through a Tom Walker penalty.

There had been plenty of positive signs already with the ball in hand, but the hosts were looking dangerous and they scored their first try on 14 minutes. Bryan played out quickly from a scrum and drew a tackle, feeding right wing Stannard who raced over half-way, the 22 and beat the last man to dot down for an unconverted score in the corner.

Five minutes later and we found ourselves down to 14 men as Fred Tuilagi was yellow carded. It seemed like it would be a case of just holding out while Stortford had a purple patch and, despite the match becoming a little frantic, we did that for the ten minutes as our No 8 returned to the field with the score still 8-0.

We had certainly had our moments in the game and suddenly three tries were scored in a manic end to the half.

Firstly, we got off the mark on 35 minutes when quick hands and a couple of fine carries saw us make metres, before Luke Carter sent Smith over for our opening try. The full-back stepped up to add the extras and we were now within a point.

Just when we thought that would do at half-time, Stortford replied almost immediately. It was either going to be a fine Chinnor interception try or a score for the hosts, and it proved to be the latter, with Stannard taking advantage to storm down the right and feed Bryan for an unconverted try and a 13-7 lead.

The first period still wasn’t over and there was still time for a sensational try from Hodson. Titchener fed Smith on half-way and the full-back offloaded to Hodson who glided through Stortford like a hot knife through butter to score from some 40m. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but we only trailed by a point.

Judging by the end of that half, it was likely we were going to see more tries and we were first to strike after the break.

Harewood’s fine carry and offload allowed Conor Brockschmidt to rampage forward, before Yawayawa carried well as Stortford were pinned back. A couple of pick and goes later, and Tuilagi drove over from close range – Smith converting – as we went 19-13 ahead.

Stortford, roared on by an excited Ladies Day crowd, still looked dangerously unpredictable and three tries in the space of ten minutes turned the game.
Having cleared our lines well, the hosts took a quickly-taken lineout on their 22 and launched a counter-attack which resulted in Walker converting his own try and putting them back in front at 21-19.

Their tails were up and Bryan was again the creator. The scrum-half glided across the pitch looking for options, before feeding the powerful and tall winger Stannard, who kicked on, collected, and scored.

We now trailed 25-19 and although the hosts were down to 14 with a man in the sin-bin, we conceded again. This time, we were in a strong position driving straight and true towards the try-line off a scrum five metres in front of the posts. However, with the ball at Tuilagi’s feet and three Stortford players around him, we were penalised and hit on the counter. A quick-tap had the home side launch an attack and it resulted in Stannard racing over from about 50m. Walker slotted the conversion and we were now 32-19 behind after an hour.

The boys refused to give in, defending superbly as Stortford went in search for more, but a sixth try did arrive on 77 minutes. Tom Lewis broke through a tackle on the 22 and looked like he had no options, but threw a superb pass out the back of his hand to the onrushing Ollie Jones who went over under the posts.

The home side were certainly enjoying themselves, but we dug in and got something out of the game. We set up a driving maul which was only heading in one direction and Tonga’uiha crashed over for our four-try bonus-point.

It wasn’t to be our day, but it was an entertaining advert for National League 1 rugby.

Next up … Rams at home on Friday, April 22.

Bishop’s Stortford: Walker, Morris, Winter, Ayrton, Stannard, Orchard, Bryan, Meek, Rayment, Harrison-Price, Charter, Thacker, Jones, Wrafter, Knight.
Reps: King, Matthews, Lewis, Smart, Cole.

Chinnor: N Smith, Worrall, Grose, Yawayawa, Goss, Titchener, Carter, Lines, Darlington, Harewood, Glynn, Brockschmidt, W Ryan, Manning, Tuilagi.
Reps: Tonga’uiha, Heathman, Thomas, North, Hodson.