Greens slip to 5th as Stevenage hold firm

From kick off the home side worked their way out of their half. A fine bullocking run from Liam Walker, full of confidence from the previous week, made the first inroads into a stout Stevenage defence and found Jake Ebhodaghe at full tilt – on his left Watt was unopposed with 30m to go, but for a forward pass.
Datchworth continued to press for the first points, turning down three points in favour of the lineout. Stevenage held firm and countered quickly, a clever kick from halfway deep towards the left touchline bounced infield and left Tom Bennett isolated – the green shirts rallied round quickly enough to recycle and Sam Brunton made good the exit into touch.

Walker was again on the charge soon after, bursting through two tackles on halfway. With a penalty for offside, Brunton found James Young in the centres as they looked to spread wide – however Bennett couldn’t hold on to the offload with a man outside him. Stevenage off the hook again.

Back with ball in hand, Datchworth edged closer but still playing at a frantic pace trying to force a score. Tom Wood sniped through from the base of a ruck, and Sam McBroom carried further. Wood then found Tom Blackwell crashing through but the ball went forward in contact – Stevenage matching the home side man-for-man in defence. Play was brought back for a penalty and from the scrum Datchworth tried to score from first phase, alas Brunton’s Crossfield was charged down by Gareth Lewis.

With only 15 minutes on the clock, the home side were still ruing missed chances but confident of going in front – only for a long pass to be intercepted for a 70-yard breakaway try and a 5-0 lead to Stevenage Town.

Datchworth continued the onslaught, a turnover by Stuart Young made space for brother James to make yards. Phase play ended with a deft grubber kick by Alex Nolan, Stevenage with the put in 10m from their line. Greens were penalised for a high tackle and Stevenage cleared, only for Datchworth to be awarded another penalty – Brunton this time sending it long for another 10m lineout. Once again the greens went close but a knock on saved the visitors and they maintained the lead.

Another chance on the half-hour mark, a Louis Watts hit and turnover on the wing set a platform for Datchworth to work upfield – play coming to an end with a chip over the defence and a 22m drop out. Stevenage saw an opportunity to attack through Crompton, who broke two tackles before the ball was spilled into touch. From the lineout Datchworth were set and the backs thirsty for another attempt to level – only for another interception and breakaway try from the halfway line. Lewis added the extras for a 12-0 lead.

On the stroke of half time, the Stevenage fly half found a gap to jink through and evaded a last ditch tackle to go over just wide of the posts. The conversion sailed over and Stevenage had a 19-0 lead – their solid defence and workrate making up for only having 20% of the possession.

An injury to Brunton and an attempt to reshuffle the backline saw Barry Malone in a straight swap for the 10 shirt, and Datchworth were on the charge straight from the kick off.
Barry Cook picked up a yellow card metres out from the Stevenage line, and Datchworth unsurprisingly opted for the scrum. A Stuart Young pick and go, and pop to Wood left a 2 on 1 on the left wing – centre James Young going it alone and the referee awarding a penalty try as he touched down.

Datchworth were still confident of overturning the deficit – despite an unfortunate Wood penalty going wide – and carried on attacking.

In a brief period of Stevenage possession Stuart Young stripped the ball and made a turnover as Datchworth looked to counter, but received a yellow card for his troubles - adjudged to have gone in high by the referee.

With 5 minutes to play, Barry Malone went over from a tap-and-go penalty and Wood’s boot reduced the gap to 5 points.

Stevenage held firm for the dying moments, and for their calmness in defence were well worthy of the win, but Datchworth will rue the early missed chances to put the game to bed and will look at the fixture as at least 3 points dropped.

Slipping to 5th there will be no league action for the boys in green on the weekend of the 10th. With just five points separating 2nd spot and 5th spot, the tough trip to Finchley on the 17th will be the focus for the next fortnight, whereas Stevenage Town will be hosting Kilburn Cosmos.