South West 2 West Stroud 20 Coney Hill 31

THIS was such a disappointing result given that Strouds' forwards were the overall dominant force.

For whatever reason the penalty count defied logic and certainly in the second half opportunities were there for the taking.

Coney Hill built an early unassailable lead as firstly Paul Richards was driven over after some neat recycling from close range and then Chris Cooper, Ryan Barnett added a sole conversion. Coney Hill were to find that in set pieces though Stroud had superiority.

Scrummages were disrupted and turned, and lineouts were avoided to prevent James Bashford and Rob Davey getting control. Sadly Stroud hardly got to grips in retaining possession, what was retrieved by the forwards was all too quickly lost through dropped passes, slow ball or the beginning of that penalty count.

Hill like to play counter attacking rugby, but learnt a lesson when some excellent close range handling released Ed Crampton. Having already been strapped for a suspect hamstring injury, he did well to break through at all, let alone side-step defenders.

Intelligent supportive running from Adam Seager allowed the attack to continue as he collected and ran to the posts. He converted this and added a penalty to end a 39 minute half, the referee deciding there had been no injuries worthy of note.

Stroud were flattered to be two points adrift at 12-10 down but the second half started much better.

Hill were now to defend hard as Stroud turned the screw, the next score though came from Shaun Felice in what was their first real foray into Stroud territory, Barnett converted. Nonetheless, Seager responded with a rare penalty award but with the penalty against count causing concern Hill maintained their momentum.

Pinned back in their twenty two Stroud could find no way to relieve the line as Hill pressed for the killer score. It came when Stroud over-committed at a ruck leaving plenty of space wide for Felice to stroll over.

With Rob Bashford offStroud had a mountain to climb as disjointed play and the concession of penalties told, some needless, all too many illogical or inexplicable.

Down a man and on the back foot Stroud weren't going to salvage a result, although it became interesting when Julian Harry intercepted a loose pass and fed Lyle Robertson who capped an impressive performance with a seventy metre run to the line, Seager converted.

With minutes left Stroud looked for any opportunity to score. Having lost Crampton and latterly Jerry Perrins with a blood injury, it was to prove not only unlikely but also impossible as Leon Liggett broke away and scored under the posts.

Barnett hit the conversion onto an upright and the ball jiggled over, it was that sort of day.