The Lions started strongly and were 19-0 up within 13 minutes. The first came after only 5 minutes, when a clever grubber kick from Luke Bouchier allowed No 8 Bronson Mellowes to touch down out wide. 2 minutes later the Lions doubled their lead when Stortford spilled the ball on their own line and Bouchier pounced on it to score. The fly half added his second successful conversion for a 14-0 lead. The Lions added a third through a driving maul, finished by Ben Park. This time Bouchier was unsuccessful with the conversion (19-0).

The home side did respond immediately though, and quick hands from a turnover released Alex Gilham whose chip and chase was charged down but landed back in the wingers hands and he fed Jake Morris to score. David Hayes adding an excellent conversion. Just 4 minutes later the home side exerted more pressure on the Lions line and when the ball was moved wide Ollie Jones went over in the corner. Hayes was on target again with the extras. Jones added his second try 10 minutes later from a driving maul to draw the sides level at 19-19.

The Lions nudged back In to the lead after 37 minutes, when Bouchier kicked a penalty goal, but it was the home side who had the last say of a breathless first half when Tom Hitchcock cut a great line from a 5m scrum to crash over under the posts. Hayes converting for a 26-22 half time lead.

It was Stortford who settled quicker in the second half and Hamish Ferguson was able to dive over from close range after the Lions had held out a 5m catch and drive (33-22).

The game remained in the balance for 15 minutes, as both sides wrestled for territory through their kicking game, but a double from Stortford’s replacement hooker, Harry Clarke, sealed victory for the home side. His first came from another 5m lineout drive and then he found himself in support of a line break straight from the resulting restart (43-22).

The Lions rallied and were rewarded with their bonus point try on 69 minutes when Fred St John showed some neat footwork to score under the posts. Bouchier converting to make it 4 from 5 off the tee for him on the day. (43-29).

The final try of this high-scoring match went to Stortford though, with Tristan Smith touching down with a couple of minutes remaining (48-22).

Head coach Gareth Collins commented: ‘It was a tough match, in tough conditions, but the score definitely doesn’t reflect the game. There wasn’t much in it all and I’m very happy how we’ve come here and competed with a tough Stortford side. It’s always going to come down to moments in games this and unfortunately they were just in the right side of a few more moments than us.’’