Streatham maintained their solid start to the season with a victory against last years Essex League 1 winners Stanford-Le-Hope. Coaches Bob Dickinson and Trevor Young made several changes from the previous weeks win with centre Nick Ogbonna making his debut with Ed Williams, Francis Kalubya, Elvin Grant and Chip Icabout all making their first appearances of the season.

Stanford started strongly pressurising the Streatham line but several solid tackles resulted in a turnover with Stratham getting their phase play working featuring several strong runs from Garth Biggins playing in his preferred No8 role this week. With the resulting pressure Stanford conceded a penalty which fly half Williams slotted. An untidy passage of play followed with neither side able to gain any control until Williams was able to break blind and feed winger Grant who was able to beat 2 men and go under the posts to make the score 10-0 after a successful conversion from Williams. Strets now had their tails up and were playing some decent rugby and following several phases 2nd row Jonnie Korcz barrelled his way forward surging through several attempted tackles and make a neat offload to put full back Luke Cassell in under the posts with another Williams conversion making the half time score 17-0.

From the restart Stanford showed why they were so successful last season and put constant pressure on the Streatham line with a neat break from their scrum half putting 5 points on the board for the visitors. The Frant Road side were able to respond swiftly with Grant running a fine inside line through the centre to make another unconverted score 22-5 but Stanford responded with 20 minutes of solid pressure and despite notable work at the breakdown by the omnipresent Jordan Bradley and stand in skipper Jack Peddle they managed a further score following a series of drives to make it 22-10. Its was the home side who were able to round the match off in style however when a turnover form Bradley, ably assisted by 2nd Row Josh Smith, who is growing into his new role, allowed scrum half Harry Peddle to kick ahead and wind the race to the line with a further conversion from Williams making the final score 29-10.

Streatham will be pleased with a 2nd win on the bounce but will be fully aware that the challenge of Met Police in the opening league game of the season at Frant Road next Saturday will be a major challenge. Kick off will be at 2pm next week and for the next few weeks as the Rugby World Cup kicks into action with Streatham running is own mini fanzone and showing mots of the major matches live.