Bishop’s Stortford lose 43-31 at home to unbeaten Richmond in National 1
Bishop’s Stortford earned a try-scoring bonus point as they battled hard in a 43-31 home defeat to unbeaten Richmond in National 1 on Saturday (October 26).
The hosts claimed five of the 11 tries in a thrilling contest at Silver Leys, but it was the second-placed visitors who triumphed thanks to an extremely well-organised team performance.
Tom Coleman’s men, who have dropped one place to 10th, have this weekend off before travelling to fourth-placed Rosslyn Park on Friday November 8 for an evening kick-off (8pm).
Stortford started on top and were two tries up within 12 minutes, the scores going to Harrison Langworthy and Dan Powell.
The latter converted both before Richmond responded with a penalty goal from Callum Grieve.
The home side was unable to sustain their early pressure and the visitors steadily took control for the rest of the half and registered three tries to James Langston, Chidera Obonna and Alex O’Meara, with Grieve adding the conversions.
Stortford failed to make early second-half pressure count and were a further five points behind after 52 minutes through a mauled try to James Litchfield.
The hosts bounced straight back with a try out wide to Alex Gilham, but, unluckily, conceded a further seven points five minutes later when the ball, ripped loose in a tackle close to the line, fell to an unmarked Sam Dardis.
The game swung to and fro and, despite fierce tackling from both sides, three more tries ensued, with Josh Stannard and Murray Davidson touching down for Stortford and Luc Jones for Richmond.
Stortford: Mills, Gilham, Pope, Biard, Stannard, Powell, Briers; T Smith, Bell, Bridges, Ferguson, Charter, Langworthy, Jones, Rogers. Replacements: Cilia, Davidson, Kiff, Johnson, Bolton.
Richmond: Grieve, O’Meara, Langston, Dardis, Obonna, Dennett, Schwarz; Freeman, Goffey, Litchfield, Murphy, Nugent, Monson, Wakeling, Pip. Replacements: Torpey, Spring, Benson, Jones, S Smith.
Scorers: Stortford - Tries: Langworthy 4, Powell 15, Gilham 56, Stannard 67, Davidson 74; Cons: Powell 5, 16, 67. Richmond - Tries: Langston 23, Obonna 32, O’Meara 38, Litchfield 52, Dardis 61, Jones 72; Cons: Grieve 24, 34, 39, 62, 73; Pens: Grieve 9.
Referee: Henry Pearson.
Star man: Harrison Langworthy (Stortford).
Attendance: 527.
