National 1 side Bishop’s Stortford complete pre-season schedule with 17-12 friendly win at Shelford

Bishop’s Stortford wrapped up their pre-season schedule with a 17-12 victory as a Blues squad got the better of Shelford on Friday evening (August 30).

Tom Coleman’s side have won all three of their friendlies - the other successes came against Tonbridge Juddians and Cambridge - as they prepare to start the 2024-25 National 1 campaign at home to Leicester Lions on Saturday (September 7).

First-half honours were shared at the Davey Field, with two tries from Charlie Briers being cancelled out by scores for the home team.

Shelford opened their account with a try from a decisive counter-attack which came very much against the balance of early play.

The visitors soon levelled when their scrum-half was quickest to react and touch down after pressure on a Shelford scrum five metres from their own line saw the ball fly loose over the try line.

Stortford took the lead six minutes later when Briers caught the opposition napping with a quick penalty tap after a breakdown offence just outside the home 22 and burst away for the try, converted by David Hayes.

The home team brought the scores level shortly before the break after some good handling under pressure from the Blues’ aggressive defence was rounded off with a break from the base of a maul from a five-metre lineout.

Having been twice held up over the Shelford tryline from powerfully-driven mauls off five-metre lineouts in the first half, Stortford’s pack managed to make a third such opportunity count 10 minutes into the second period when Tristan Smith forced his way over for an unconverted try.

This took his side into a five-point lead and proved to be the final score of the game, thanks largely to further committed defensive work from the visitors as Shelford became more of an attacking force after multiple substitutions on both sides.

“I’m really pleased with how pre-season has gone and I feel we are in a good place approaching the first league game,” said head coach Coleman on X.

“The players have worked incredibly hard on and off the field and I’m delighted with what I’m seeing from them.”