Duff the hero as Club are sunk at the death

Blackheath .... 19 B Stortford ...... 21

A STUNNING second-half performance from Bishop’s Stortford saw the visitors overturn a 19- point deficit to inflict a first home defeat of the campaign on Blackheath, with the very last move of the game.

It had all looked so easy for the hosts in the opening period. Enjoying a strong set-piece platform, Geoff Griffiths crossed out wide after line-out ball was moved sweetly across field, Joe Tarrant striking a fine touch-line conversion before adding the second try having been put clear by Leo Fielding.

Harry Bate crashed over beneath the uprights to cap a dominant 35 minutes for Blackheath, but with the half moving to a close the concession of two penalties allowed Stortford their first sorté into the Blackheath 22, Will Roberts driving across to reduce the deficit to 19-7 at the break.

Now it was the visitors who dominated, with hooker Dec Caulfield leading the charge and as quick handling sent Chris Smith racing over and rounding under the posts for an easy conversion, the gap was reduced to a mere five points.

Twice Blackheath turned over ball close to their own goal-line to thwart Stortford, but as the defence became increasingly desperate and Fielding was dispatched for a deliberate knock-on, space opened up for Robert Duff to glide across, George Cullen’s conversion settling the match in the visitors’ favour.