Bishop’s Stortford gained a well deserved victory over a strangely out of sorts Cinderford team.

The home side had first use of the wind behind them but unable to breakthrough their opponents well organised defence, which performed heroically throughout the match.  Liam Hemming was off target with a penalty from long range after 15 minutes as Cinderford pressed forward, but they continued to be thwarted by some resolute defence.  On a rare excursion into opposition territory it was Stortford who opened the scoring in the 34th minute when a kick ahead saw a Cinderford player lose possession over the try line and winger Rob Duff followed up quickly to be awarded the score.

The second half saw Cinderford winning plenty of possession but struggling to get out of their own half for long periods or simply not making any telling headway.  Stortford stuck to their game plan and scrum-half Tom Banks was on target with a penalty from wide out to increase his team’s lead after 51 minutes.  When a penalty decision was reversed Banks landed his second kick to make 11-0 after 67 minutes.  The home side pressed hard in the closing stages but simply ran out of ideas as they continued to be frustrated by their opponents excellent defence.