STROUD will be hoping for County Cup quarter-final success when Spartans come to Fromehall Park this Saturday (2pm), writes Andy Toohig.

However, it was a different story last Saturday at Gordon League as Stroud suffered a 22-7 reverse.

League won this game because they played to tactical strengths, an option Stroud chose to ignore and no more perfectly reflected in Leagues' first try.

Most of the game had been played between each teams twenty two metre lines, unsurprising in the conditions, but from this defensive position Stroud won set piece ball and decided to play a switch move.

The ball was dropped at centre and Adam Lott picked up the loose ball and ran for the posts. Gavin Rea converted.

Stroud had already displayed superiority in the pack by shoving League back at will, and did well in the lineouts too, however there was little to enthuse forwards who found that only nominal advantage had been made from their efforts, despite determined runs from Dave Clutterbuck who at least took the game to the hosts.

Playing down the slope, a far better option would have been to play for position and let League make mistakes in defence and play off that, but it wasn't to be.

The half finished with Rea having added a penalty for League who now led 10-0 but having created few openings themselves.

Stroud got off to a decent second half start when pressure on Leagues defence told.

A couple of infringements gave them the option to tap and run, and Mike Thornley duly obliged from close in.

Josh Lister added the extras.

Stroud failed to take advantage though, allowing League back in and Rea's boot did the rest with deep attacking positions found for his forwards.

All League had to do was wait and as Stroud battled to work their way upfield sloppy errors told.

Leagues next try came from a shambles of a defence when from a lineout the ball was worked midfield, Rea came in from full -back and with a barn door opened he raced to the posts and converted his own try.

Stroud plugged away, and even after Ben Brinkworth had come on as fresh legs for the hard working Rob Bashford, Stroud retained the edge in the scrum.

A turning point came when Stroud had a long range penalty awarded. Listers kick had the legs but it struck an upright and was safely cleared.

A score then would have kept Stroud in touch for a draw, but it was League who killed the game with a try late on, although unsighted referee Paul Vidgen, who otherwise had a very good game with the whistle, failed to spot the ball was dropped as League piled over the line.