STANFORD’S second team were crushed 74-15 at home to Mavericks but showed plenty of character, which will serve them in good stead.

Grant Ferguson scored a penalty try and their second try which came from a good kick and chase, where Sean Cochrane showed he still had good pace and put in a crunching tackle on the Mavericks full back. Adam Gander was there backing up Cochrane and, as the ball was spilled by the visitors, Gander bounced and was over the try line before anyone could stop him.

Ferguson added a penalty and a conversion. Stanford’s man of the match was Clive Broad, but he didn’t actually play for Stanford as Mavericks turned up without a complete front row, so Broad stepped up and played against his team mates!

In the youth sections, Stanford’s under-15s travelled to Epping & Upper Clapton and lost 45-21.

A threadbare Stanford team were always under pressure but Sean Loughran powered through for a try, Harvey Cassidy also touched down despite suffering with injury and Peter Colbert rounded off a good move.

Zack Burdett kicked three conversions. Man of the match was Jake Tottman.

The under-14s beat Rochford 27-20 with Joe Moran (two), George Whalley (one), Thomas Giroud (one) and JJ Adetona (one) were the try scorers with Mark-David Ikhifa converting.

The under-11s played Barking, Burnham and Ilford in a round-robin competition.

They were defeated 2-1 by Burnham despite Alfie Rawe’s try, they beat Barking 3-2 – with tries coming from Charlie Baker, Joshua Early and Daniel Hook – and they were beaten 4-1 by Ilford with James Derby on the scoresheet.

The club’s women’s section, the Stanford Sirenettes, played their first home games.

They took on Basildon. Bex Boultwood scored a great snipers try, though her kick was too low to convert her own try, and the game was won when a power hit by Lily Gander saw the ball roll over the try line. The Sirenettes reacted first, touching the ball down to the right of the posts to win 10-5.

They then faced Colchester in an eight-a-side game which they lost 15-5.

Sirenettes team: Emily Cadogen (C), Lily Gander (VC), Rebecca Boultwood, Phoebe Shaw, Georgia Wiggins, Bailey James and Amy Kettle. Players of the match (chosen by Club Chairman Kyran McDonald) - Georgia Wiggins, Rebecca Boultwood and Lily Gander.

All girls should be very proud of themselves.