Stroud RFC

Western Counties North

Stroud RFC 13pts, Bristol Harlequins RFC 17

With Stroud already on a winning roll this was a really bad result, especially as they held the lead for all but the last three minutes of the game.

Stroud opened up Harlequins with virtually the first move of the afternoon that saw a fine attack down the flank. Lyle Robertson committed defenders before offloading to James Sharples who still with a bit to do cut inside to score. Julian Harry added the extras and also a penalty minutes later.

Stroud looked good although they never quite achieved complete pack dominance that has been a trait of so many other fixtures this season. In fact Harlequins, although never bettering Stroud, responded well, especially in the Front Row where the referee held court after some minor hand-bagging took place.

Harlequins did have their moments in attack and tried a couple of times to use a driving maul but Stroud were well organised and forced them to play wide where they seemed uncomfortable, despite having a handy winger in Scott Manning. On the other hand Stroud were able to gain plenty of ground with their drives and should have posted a couple more tries in the period but fumbles and poor passes denied them scores.

As it was, the only real forays that Harlequins had resulted in two well struck penalties from Chris Page that was to give them some hope at the turn with Stroud marginally ahead 10-6.

Both teams struggled to find any rhythm early in the second half with play becoming less than fluid, Stroud being the most culpable with far too many handling errors. What might have proved a match winning score for Stroud came when a two on one attack down the right wing fell short a few metres from the try line.

Harlequins had been asked many questions of their defence and, apart from the first few minutes, answered them. They did well to make good clearances with long range kicks and on a couple of occasions Stroud either failed to counter, when space allowed, or kicked poorly to touch. Indeed, Manning almost got his name on the scoresheet when following up a speculative kick but the ball bounced beyond the try-line.

With Stroud struggling to make an impact Page nicked a couple of penalties to Harry's one to leave Harlequins one point adrift. That would have been enough, especially as Stroud never looked like conceding a try, but that was to change. Minutes from time a bullocking drive to the Harlequins line was bravely held up, however in the process Rob Bashford was over eager to clear defenders out and was binned.

A clearance was made and a subsequent lineout saw an infringement that led to a scrum. With Andy Jarrett already replaced with an arm injury, Stroud's front row replacement on the field and Bashford in the bin it was left for a willing Rob Davey to occupy the Loosehead spot. The scrum was lost and from the half way line Harlequins attacked and made what was probably their single encampment on Strouds line all day. From such a position a score was inevitable and John-Paul Hayes went over in the corner.

Stroud did counter but as had been the case throughout a final defence splitting pass was dropped. Harlequins cleared and the referee blew up for what was a smash and grab raid on the points.

Hopes of redemption comes next week when Stroud pay a visit to St Mary's Old Boys in the Powergen Intermediate Cup. The Nomads play a Merit Table game at Cinderford.