Three for Linney as Stotford keep winning

JOSS Linney scored a hattrick for Bishop’s Stortford as they extended their winning run to four matches to move further away from the Nat 1 relegation zone.

The wing proved a constant menace throughout, scoring two tries in the first half and adding another in the second to aid the win.

Bishop’s Stortford were playing with confidence after a run of three consecutive wins and started well with three early tries.

The first came after a kick found Linney on the wing, who beat Joseph Beckett to the ball to touch down in the eighth minute Charles Kingham converting from a tight angle.

The visitors continued to apply pressure and in the 22nd minute a five-metre scrum came out to Nicholas Hankin, who beat two defenders to finish well, but the conversion was missed.

Moments later they struck again, hooker Declan Caulfield bundling over from a maul to take the score to 17-0 after a second missed conversion by Kingham.

The hosts got back into the match with a converted try in the 34th minute. Owen Waters broke through the backline and Kariyim Irving darted over on the wing - Paul Roberts was successful with a difficult conversion.

However, there was an immediate response as a low kick to the left flank found Linney once again, who narrowly got to the ball ahead of Beckett to

ensure his side led 22-7 at the break.

After half-time Linney ran onto a kick down the left flank to round off his hat-trick, before Jack Walsh tip-toed his way through to give Esher a consolation try.

The loss was Esher’s first at home since November, and the team is now in danger of relegation with three defeats in four matches.