First derby ends in upset as Stow win

London 4 North East Rugby

Stowmarket 13

Sudbury 12

STOWMARKET came out on top by just a single point in the first-ever league meeting of the two sides.

Early on, Stowmarket quickly turned over the ball from a Sudbury scrum and Vukinavanau danced along the sideline to score under the posts. Anthony Crowe converted.

No further points were scored in the first half.

In the second half, Stowmarket gave away a couple of penalties and Sudbury battered the Stowmarket line, converting a try to level the scores at 7-7.

Sudbury, finding no way through with their forwards, then gathered a loose ball and won the footrace to make it 12-7, but crucially the conversion was missed.

With 10 minutes to go Stowmarket went on the attack and were stopped illegally when a try looked like being scored.

Crowe stepped up and slotted the ball through the posts.

Now trailing by just two points there was an urgency and belief in the Stowmarket team.

They took a line-out and Jon Roper and Greg Thomas marshalled the forwards to drive towards the Sudbury line.

After driving some 15 metres the maul was pulled down two metres short of a certain try, and a penalty was awarded.

Stowmarket elected to kick for points and Crowe placed the ball and again kicked superbly for the win.