Stamford Rugby Club beat Bourne in the Papa John's Community Cup

Stamford progressed into the quarter-finals of the Papa John's Community Cup after victory in their fourth meeting of the season with Bourne on Saturday.

The purple, black and whites had won both of the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) clashes between the two clubs this season.

Bourne then took the honours in the County Cup clash before Stamford secured a 17-49 win at Milking Nook Drove in Saturday's Counties 1 North Plate section showdown.

The home side started strongly but were met with some ferocious Stamford tackling which stopped them in their tracks.

Stamford then took possession and moved out of defence and kicked long into the home 22.

From the resulting lineout, Ben Chisholm won the ball and the pack drove over for Joe Ireland to open the scoring with a try that Harry Bentley converted.

Stamford's attacking game paid off again shortly afterwards when good handling put Rob Hesford over for the second try which made the score 0-12 after only 15 minutes.

Bourne tried to hit back as they broke out of defence but their kick was charged down and Zach Morley made good ground before passing to Toby Anderson to score.

This was Anderson's first game for about six months and he was playing like he had never been away as Bentley's conversion took the score onto 0-19.

The hosts were now getting their game together and, when a gap appeared, they sent Stamford old boy Gaz Ramsden through on a direct line that he doesn’t miss for a converted try.

The game now had opened up with both sides looking for opportunities but good defence restricted the scoring to a single Bentley penalty to make the score at the interval 7-22.

The second half started in a similar fashion but it was Stamford that were getting the upper hand.

Another penalty was followed by a clean break by Anderson that was carried on by Ed Cox, Jack Jones and Danny McFadden before Mike Kendall sailed in under the posts for a try which was again converted to take the score to 7-32.

Bourne were working hard to get back into the game but, when they kicked ahead, the ball was taken by Harry Ayton who ran it back before sending McFadden down the wing.

He drew the defence to him before delivering an audacious pass out the back of his hand to the supporting Anderson for his second try that had the travelling supporters applauding them both back to the halfway line.

Bourne put together a good move and a strong run made an opening for an inside pass to score a converted try that was followed shortly after by a successful long range drop goal that made the score 17-37.

The open style of play continued and Hesford broke through and, when stopped, set the ball up for rapid passing to Morley who scored a try which Bentley added the extra two to increase the score to 17-44.

The match was now entering the latter stages but Stamford were able to construct one final attack from which skipper Jack Jones crossed wide out to make the final score 17-49.

This was a very good all-round performance by Stamford and credit must go to Ben Chisholm who won numerous line outs and the front row of Harris, Robertson and Ireland, supported by replacement Freddie Durrant, who were rock solid in the scrum while Anderson's game was the star performance.

Stamford will now meet Yorkshire side Pocklington in the last eight at Empingham Road on Saturday (3pm) where a large crowd is expected for what should be an exciting game.