Match Preview

Another huge game for Stortford this week, with the trip to second placed Chinnor. After the home side's surprise defeat at Clifton last week and Stortford's excellent win over a powerful Redruth side, there is now a 10 point gap between the teams but, as their DOR's rallying call for support on the Chinnor website makes clear, this only makes them more desperate for league points, with OEs now snapping at their heals. No such rallying cry from Andy Long is necessary, with a coachload of supporters traveling over on the Oval Club bus and many many more members making their own way there. Nor will the team be lacking for motivation, with four games still to play and Chinnor's "galacticos" in their sights. Stortford achieved a tremendous victory back in November in the reverse fixture, built on aggressive defence and more of this will undoubtedly be necessary against a powerful Chinnor outfit and our backs will be looking to produce more of the clinical finishing, that they achieved last week against Redruth. The home side have been reinforced with further recruitment before the February registration deadline, notably No. 8, Ben Pienaar, London Welsh's former captain and flyhalf, Jonny Bentley now keeping Basil Strang, this season's Oxford University 10 on the bench but, as Clifton showed last week they are far from invincible. They will nevertheless be defending an unbeaten home record stretching back well into last season and will be hoping to welcome back one or two injured players since last week. The challenge for Stortford is clear but, having achieved the November victory without both Johnny Neville and Sam Winter in the centres, our team will be relishing the prospect. COYB!