A very entertaining, end-to-end game was witnessed at the Darlington Arena by the Mowden faithful and a decent contingent from visitors Bishop's Stortford RFC, with the home side just edging the win.

The injury situation saw two responses from Mowden on the field, with the half time introduction of German prop Jonas HUMBERT (ex Hamburg and University of Queensland), who considering his late arrival to the club this week and resultant inability to train, saw him acquit himself well in the tight and around the field, despite a decent showing of claret emanating from his nose. In contrast, Head Coach Garry LAW re-introduced himself to the match day squad, which he will hope is only a temporary measure.

Bishop's Stortford RFC have previously provided decent opposition to Mowden since their introduction to National League One and yesterday was no exception, acquitting themselves well in all aspects of their game, especially in open play, where their philosophy of moving the ball forward from all areas of the pitch is akin to that of Mowden.

It was Stortford who broke the deadlock after Mowden were found wanting on the outside, winger Robert DUFF profiting as the hosts were outflanked after being stretched from one side of the field to the other. (0 – 5)

It wasn’t long before the home side levelled, when lock turned prop Talite VAIOLETI found himself with some space, crossing for a try (5 – 5), which was converted by the dependable Warren SEALS, who was occupying the centre birth in this game. (7 – 5)

SEALS added a further penalty (10 – 5), before the versatile Callum MACKENZIE cut a scoring line near the posts (15 – 5) and with the sure-footed SEALS in the mood and adding the extras (17 – 5), Mowden looked to be forging ahead.

However, any such thoughts were not in the script for the visitors as Stortford fought back following an excellent attack which brought a try for flanker Daniel ELSOM (17 – 10), with this time scrum half Tommy BANKS adding the conversion. (17 – 12)

Mowden attacked prior to the interval, but were thwarted by a solid visitors defence, settling for a SEALS penalty before half time. (20 – 12)

Stortford started the brighter on resumption of play, with lock James THACKER crossing (19 – 17) and BANKS converting to narrow the gap to 20 – 19.

Stortford had a chance to take the lead 10 minutes later, but a long range penalty effort drifted well wide.

The game turned into an arm wrestle at this point, both sides looking for the score to pull away.

However, good defences prevailed and two late Warren SEALS penalties ensured a home win for Mowden, in the first home game of 2020.

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Chris McTURK, 14. Brandon ASHER-WOOD, 13. Benjamin FRANKLAND, 12. Warren SEALS, 11. Oliver WALKER, 10. Callum IRVINE (Benjamin DIXON, 42), 9. Euan McKIRDY, 1. Scott WESTWOOD, 2. David NELSON (Garry LAW, 49), 3. Talite VAIOLETI, 4. Daniel GRANGE (Jonas HUMBERT, 40), 5. Joe CRAGGS,6. Callum MACKENZIE, 7. Joseph DUFY, 8. Oliver HODGSON.
Replacements: Sam SHAKS, Elia BIASUZZI (Not Used)

SCORING
Try: VAIOLETI (12), MACKENZIE (27)
Conversion: SEALS (13, 28)
Penalty: SEALS (23, 36, 70)
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: Oliver WALKER (44) (DMPRFC)

BISHOP'S STORTFORD RFC SQUAD
15. Nicholas HANKIN, 14. Robert DUFF, 13. Joshua STANNARD, 12. Samuel WINTER, 11. Michael AYRTON (George KEEN, 59), 10. George CULLEN, 9. Thomas BANKS, 1. Louis CASTIGLIONE (Jean Pierre NEL, 61), 2. Harrison KING (Thedor DAN, 40), 3. Sebastian BROWNHILL, 4. James THACKER, 5. Thomas LEWIS, 6. Luis BALL, 7. Daniel ELSOM, 8. Charles KINGHAM (Baxter WILSON, 22).
Replacements: Austin POPE (Not Used)

SCORING
Try: DUFF (4), ELSOM (30), THACKER (49)
Conversion: BANKS (31, 49)
Penalty: None
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: None

Half-Time: 20 – 12
Full-Time: 26 – 19
Attendance: 867
Player of the Match: Warren SEALS (DMPRFC)
Referee: Mr Veryan BOSCAWEN
Referee’s Assistants: Mr Brendan FITZMAURICE, Mr Carl WALSH

Next week: CINDERFORD RFC (A)

? 50/50 Draw Winner ? Ticket Number 00445