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Bishop’s Stortford head coach Tom Coleman delighted with character shown in National 1 win at Rotherham




Tom Coleman was delighted to see the hard work in training pay off as Bishop’s Stortford ended Rotherham’s 19-game unbeaten home run in National 1 at the weekend.

The visitors ran in six tries to triumph 45-34 as their second consecutive away victory helped them climb one place to ninth in the table.

And the head coach was thrilled with what he saw as his team built up a 27-point lead at the break before resolute defence in the second period - including a spell when they were reduced to 13 men due to two yellow cards overlapping - saw them claim the bonus-point win.

“I’m very, very, very pleased with the performance today,” said Coleman. “It seems like a long time coming, just trying to search for that level of consistency really in the performance.

“We knew what it was about coming here today. Rotherham are a very difficult side with a good forward pack and with good momentum behind them so far in the league. They’ve proved they’re a tough nut to crack.

“I think the way we set about our business in the first half in particular was a massive credit to the boys. They executed what we’d been doing all week in training, so that was very pleasing.

Bishop's Stortford head coach Tom Coleman. Picture: Emma Cox Photography
Bishop's Stortford head coach Tom Coleman. Picture: Emma Cox Photography

“In the second half the tide turned a bit but we knew that would happen. A little bit of ill discipline cost us as well, but the boys have shown a huge amount [of character] to dig in and get the job done.”

Stortford also showed defensive grit with a numerical disadvantage the previous week when they fought hard in a narrow 10-6 home defeat to leaders Rams.

“The boys have dug deep again and shown, as a team, that when they stick together, with the defensive platform we’ve put in place this year, and actually get it right it’s a very hard nut to crack,” said Coleman.

“We probably could have controlled the game better in the second half if we’d stuck to 15 [players], but that wasn’t the case and Rotherham put us under a lot of pressure.

“But I’m so happy with the boys and the character they’ve shown. It was massive for us and hopefully we can take that moving forward.”

Stortford are at home this Saturday (October 26) when they welcome second-placed Richmond, who are unbeaten, to Silver Leys.



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