Stroud will look back with some regret at the outcome of this game writes Sean Moore. They did the hard work by defending strongly, thwarting a rampant Cirencester side, relegated from Western Counties last season, who were playing down the slope in the first half.

Initially Cirencester were all over Stroud, constantly probing and using their huge second row as a battering ram. It often took two or three tackles to bring him down. A much changed Stroud side tackled well to a man and gradually came to realise that they stood a chance.

Counter attacks occurred and Dan Gordon found a good touch in the corner. The ball was well won and Cirencester were penalised for a high tackle and Pete Sykes kicked the penalty, 3-0. Stroud were a little unlucky not to add further points as they attacked convincingly showing good speed and cohesion. Eventually, following a scrum on the Cirencester line, the ball went out to Dan Gordon who shimmied past two players to score near the posts. Sykes converted to make it 10-0. Just before half time Cirencester’s behemoth second row barged over for an unconverted try.

With the benefit of the slope in the second half, Stroud should really have sewn the game up but they squandered a lot of good possession through some indirect and speculative passing in the backs. Cirencester had a player sin-binned and shortly afterwards a dispute between Sam Viggers and an opponent led to them both getting yellow cards.

Despite their best efforts Stroud could not find a way through the Cirencester defence and in the last few minutes an ill-directed clearance kick went straight to a Cirencester centre who found plenty of space to elude the Stroud defence and score half way out.

This brought the scores level and ex-Stroud player, Adam Seager, calmly slotted the conversion to give Cirencester a narrow lead. In the last minute Stroud were awarded a penalty and Pete Sykes was only just short with a penalty from half way which would have brought Stroud victory.

Stroud’s much changed pack can take a lot of credit from this game and the backs will surely have learnt a lesson or two.

Stroud play Frampton Cotterell at home next saturday, kick off 15:00

Library photo courtesy of Gary Learmonth, Red Piranha Photography