It was a hard-fought afternoon at Manor Fields as Bletchley’s 2nd XV battled Stockwood Park in their latest Merit League fixture. Despite a spirited performance and a strong second-half showing, the visitors held on to take the points.

Stockwood opened the scoring after 11 minutes, converting to take an early lead. They doubled their advantage at the 29-minute mark and added a third shortly after the break to extend their control of the game.

Bletchley, however, refused to roll over. Midway through the second half, Ollie Britten crossed the line at 54 minutes to spark the comeback effort. Just ten minutes later, Colts debutant Seth Garner produced a moment of brilliance — intercepting a Stockwood pass inside his own half and racing three-quarters of the pitch to score beneath the posts. Alex Grogan added the conversion to bring the game back within reach at 12–21.

From there, Bletchley’s energy and determination shone through, pushing Stockwood hard in the closing stages, but time ultimately ran out on a potential comeback.

There were standout performances across the field — with both Colts debutants Seth Garner and Freddy Otoo-Anakwa impressing in their first senior appearances. Captain Adam Downing led from the front, showing tireless work rate throughout, while replacement Matty Ross added real impact off the bench.

A special mention goes to Freddy Otoo-Anakwa, whose outstanding work rate, tackling, and composure throughout earned him the Man of the Match award — a superb performance on senior debut.

Although the result didn’t fall Bletchley’s way, it was another valuable outing for the squad — full of heart, effort, and learning as they continue to build momentum through the season.

Next up, the 2nd XV travel to Dunstable on Saturday 18th October for what promises to be a tough fixture on the road.