Stanford entertained undefeated league leaders Runwell on Saturday and despite having a couple of first team regulars missing started out very optimistically playing with the wind behind their backs.
Stanford were put under considerable pressure at the scrummage and from one such scrum 5 metres out Runwell opened the scoring with an unconverted try.
Stanford bounced back when a quickly taken line-out was kicked ahead, deep into Runwell's 22. Liam Morley, Russell Kennedy and Danny Jackson gave chase and when the Runwell full-back fumbled under pressure Liam Morley collected the loose ball to score, Fly-half Grant Ferguson added the conversion.
Ferguson's tactical kicking with the use of the wind, pinned Runwell back and Ferguson extended the lead with a penalty.
Runwell scored just before the break with a converted try to narrowly lead 12-10.
Stanford again started the second half by taking the game to Runwell when Ferguson slotted over a penalty for Stanford to re-gain the lead.
Runwell upped their game and scored 2 converted tries before Russell Kennedy's quickly taken tap penalty saw him power past the Runwell defence to score a try, Ferguson's reliable boot was this time of key as his kick sailed wide of the mark.
Stanford were forced into a number of changes and when Scrum half Callum Reid was forced to limp off of the pitch with an ankle injury the final flood gates opened as Runwell scored 17 unanswered points to finish the game with a larger margin than the game reflected.
Stanford entertain Brightlingsea in the league this weekend.
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