‘Choker’ as battling 14 are undone by last kick
Old Elthamians 14pts Bishops Stort .... 16pts
STORTFORD captain Tom Coleman saluted his side’s composure after they secured a nail-biting victory with the final kick to go back to the top of the table.
Scrum-half Tom Banks’ 80th-minute penalty enabled them to snatch victory against an Elthamians side who had taken the lead for the first time with just two minutes remaining.
This was despite playing virtually the entire game with only 14 men following the second-minute dis- missal of prop Aston Bevans-Royston.
A delighted Coleman said: “We looked like we were hanging on a bit in the second half and, when OEs scored with only two minutes left, in the back of your mind you’re always thinking ‘that’s it’.
“But we had time left and we knew we had to have a good restart and win the ball back – and that’s how it worked out.
“We train hard for situations like that and today it’s paid off. The group mentality is very strong and we always knew we were capable of coming back, but I have to say, massive credit to OEs. To play the whole game with 14 men and come back like that was superb. We certainly didn’t under-estimate them because we know what they are capable of. They are a well-drilled, top-quality side.”
The pivotal moment in this pulsating match came when Bevans-Royston was shown a straight red for a headbutt. From there, OEs were left with a mountain to climb as Stortford turned the screw up front.
The industrious Stortford pack camped in the home 22 for long periods, before No.8 Mark McCraith crashed over from close range to open the scoring on 12 minutes.
Prop Sean Edwards doubled their lead by the interval when he emerged with the ball after his pack had driven to the line.
However, OEs were a side transformed after the restart. They used the ball intelligently to keep play in the visitors’ half and chipped away at the lead with three well-struck Will Robinson penalties.
Banks replied with a three-pointer of his own and, with the impressive Stortford defence in miserly mood, OEs rarely looked like crossing the try line.
With three minutes remaining, OEs pounced on turnover ball midway in the Stortford half and the ball was spread wide for Dom Lespierre to go over in the corner.
But the visitors refused to panic, winning the vital restart and forcing the penalty midway in the OEs half for Banks to slot the match-winning points.
OEs Director of Rugby Gavin Lach said: “I’m absolutely gutted. To come back the way we did in the second half was quite magnificent. I’m so proud of the boys for the guts and resilience they showed.
“But, having worked so hard to claw our way back and take the lead, then concede a penalty with the last kick of the match, was a choker.”