A nine point half time lead was never going to be enough against another of the league’s front runners as Canterbury’s prospects were blown away after the break.
With a gale behind them the city side needed a better return than two first half tries and they were made to pay for a failure to put away their chances.
To be denied a bonus point was disappointing because this was a far better performance than the previous week’s drubbing at league leaders Cambridge.
The wind blasting down the pitch was always going to be an important factor and the city side, after losing the toss, needed to harness it quickly. Instead they made a tentative start and when hooker Tom Rogers was handed an early yellow card soon found themselves five points down. Bishops Stortford destroyed an undermanned scrum and Number Eight Mark McCraith wrestled his way over for a 9th minute try.
Only then did Canterbury stir themselves and take control of territory. They found it tough to crack a resolute defence and it wasn’t until the end of the first quarter that they prised it open. Turning down easy penalty points they pocketed the try they were looking for when crisp work by the backs made space for wing Harry Sayers to finish and Tom Best add a touchline conversion.
It gave the city side a momentum which should have translated into more points as penetrating runs by the Best brothers, Ollie and Tom, created opportunities which Bishops were thankful to survive,. But the pressure stayed on and when a second try arrived it was a good one, created from first phase scrum possession. Mason Rosvall came off his wing to make the breach and Ollie Best, in top form all afternoon, touched down. Brother Tom added the goal points but, frustratingly, Canterbury had nothing more to show before half time.
Bishops Stortford knew their chance was coming and they struck quickly. The city side coughed up ball, an error that became much too frequent, and put themselves under pressure, Bishops wheeled an attacking scrum, Alex Patton darted through the gap and George Cullen kicked the conversion.
Another turnover led to Canterbury’s downfall in the 57th minute. Wing Mike Gallagher was worked over for the try, Cullen was on target and the visitors were in the lead. When Canterbury did make ground against the fierce wind they were still a lively force but a lack of accuracy spoiled their best chance and it was soon backs to the wall again. They felt the pain of seeing Bishops grab a bonus point fourth try from Nick Hankin on the overlap, which Cullen converted, but survived further anguish through committed defending, despite losing scrum half Dan Smart to a yellow card,
Canterbury: O.Best, H.Sayers, C.Horey, T.Best, M.Rosvall, M.Beaumont, D.Smart , C.Townley (repl J.Green), T.Rogers (repl N.Wakefield), A.Wake-Smith, R.Cadman,T.Edwards (repl S.Nixon),M.Cantwell, S.Rogers, G.Micans