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Fri 17 Jan 2020
Cheltenham 2
Stroud Rugby
31
29
Incredible effort but a narrow defeat for Nomads
joshua stratton20 Jan 2020 - 08:06
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A cold, dry night and of course an Artificial Grass Pitch provided the perfect conditions for open rugby and the game that followed did not disappoint.
Incredible effort but a narrow defeat for Nomads.
Nomads travelled to Cheltenham for a Friday night fixture with a squad of 19 players plus a sizeable 1st team supporters group, which shows the spirit and togetherness of the playing squad. A cold, dry night and of course an Artificial Grass Pitch provided the perfect conditions for open rugby and the game that followed did not disappoint.
1 Lee Marshall 2 Sam Davies 3 Damien Cox 4 Adam Clark 5 Nick Stringer 6 Mark Phillips 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Cory Baker 9 Callum Gibbs 10 Lex Brookes 11 Alex Nash 12 Chris Toon 13 Tom Taylor 14 Dom Stephenson 15 Jordan Phipps Reps: Jess Stevens, Asher Courts, Mark Samak, James Nash.
Nomads began in positive fashion - after Marshall had secured the kick off, strong carries from Clark and Baker took play up to halfway before Cheltenham transgressed at the breakdown. A raking touch finder from Brookes gave Nomads an early opportunity inside the opposition 22. Davies and Stringer combined to provide secure ball and the platform to set up a driving maul. The pack surged towards the line but an unfortunate loss of control prevented a score. Nomads continued to camp in the Cheltenham 22 but initially struggled to cross the line. Close range pick and goes were halted and Cheltenham were able to clear. Eventually from another clean line out take, Gibbs spread play to Brookes, who found Toon cutting back against the grain on a powerful line to crash over. 0-5.
Some elusive running from the Cheltenham winger made a massive amount of ground from a Nomads clearance kick. Linking with his forwards the ball was transferred out wide for their right winger to cross in the corner. 5-5.
Cheltenham made great use of the driving lineout after a penalty kick to the corner. Although Nomads were able to halt the initial surge, Cheltenham exploited a gap close to the breakdown for a forward to power over. Try Converted. 12-5.
Cheltenham regularly looked to kick for territory but Stephenson and Phipps always looked to take play straight back at the opposition and ran strongly out of defence. Phipps in particular was seemingly making ground at ease and one carry took play 50m up field before Gibbs fed Baker and then Phillips and Davies to continue the momentum. Brookes freed Phipps on the outside for the Full Back to show his pace and scorch in on the left. Phipps converted. 12-12.
A misjudged take at the kick-off worked in Stroud’s favour as Phillips snapped up the loose ball and set off on a powerful burst up the right wing. Evading a number of tacklers less than half his age he offloaded to Flanagan to continue the attack. Gibbs and Brookes combined to free Stephenson for a strong run up the wing and he was unlucky to have been adjudged to have had a foot in touch. Good pressure at the line-out from Clark forced a knock on that was secured by Flanagan. Another typically direct line from Toon took play forward before efficient handling from the backs allowed Taylor to find Phipps, who once again outstripped the defence to cross in the corner. 12-17.
Again Cheltenham made use of their catch and drive to pressurise the Nomads line. This time the maul was brought down illegally and the Cheletenham backs used the opportunity of free ball to throw a long miss pass that bounced kindly into the hands of the winger, who crossed to level the scores. Try Converted. 19-17.
Half TimeCheltenham 2nd XV 19Stroud Nomads 17
Courts replaced Toon with Flanagan moving out to the centre whilst James Nash replaced Alex Nash on the wing at Half Time.
Cheltenham scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half to open up a commanding lead. Both tries came from a mixture of good Cheltenham handling and some rare Stroud miscommunication in defence. Nomads defended the first and second phases well but were sucked in on a number of occasions allowing Cheltenham to exploit space out wide. 31-17.
With 25 minutes to go, Samak replaced Phillips whist Stevens made a welcome return to the Nomads setup replacing Cox. Although behind, Nomads spirit could not be questioned and they always looked to take play to Cheltenham. Phipps as ever was combative and elusive and always caused the defence major problems whilst Brookes carried strongly making superb use of the handoff in the process. One Brookes run was halted by an unfortunate tip tackle that earned Cheltenham a red card. Buoyed by this, Nomads pressed forward with Phipps taking a quick tap and go. Linking with Baker and Samak, Nomads moved into the Cheltenham 22 before Gibbs found Clark on the burst. He was stopped just short as was Marshall with a short range pick and go but Cheltenham had encroached offside. Alert as ever, Phipps took another quick tap and forced his way over from close range. 31-22.
Phillips returned in place of Baker although Baker’s rest was short lived as he returned in place of the injured Gibbs. A solid take at the kick off from Stringer provided the platform for the next series of Nomads attacks. Brookes again looked to carry and again made significant ground. Phipps fed Samak and Phillips to continue the momentum before he himself spotted a miss-match up the middle and outstripped the covering forwards. Running 40m he crossed the line for what appeared to be his fourth try of the evening only to selflessly offload to the supporting James Nash, to give the young winger his moment of glory. Phipps converted. 31-29. Toon miraculously returned to the field in place of Taylor despite a leg injury.
With 5 minutes to play Nomads were now right back in this game and continued to press on. Marshall made significant ground up the middle with a great run before Flanagan and Stephenson linked well to advance up the right before the forwards took over with strong carries from Clark and Phillips. The pressure forced Cheltenham into conceding a penalty. Baker’s long distance effort was unsuccessful but Nomads were able to secure possession from the clearance. One last attack saw another snipe from Phipps and carries from Phillips and Clark forcing Cheltenham to again transgress at the breakdown. The kicking duties switched back to Phipps but his kick went agonisingly wide - just the wrong side of the post. An unfortunate end for a fantastic all round performance from the Full Back/Scrum Half, who was a clear Man of the Match.
The final whistle went bringing an end to a pulsating 80 minutes, which were played in excellent spirit by both teams. This was a fine advert for 2nd team rugby and showed how far the Nomads have come in the last few months both in terms of their squad size and in the positive attacking rugby that they are playing. Although the result did not quite materialise, this was a hugely positive evening for the lads, who should now push on, commit and continue to develop throughout the rest of the season.
Full Time Cheltenham 2nd XV 31Stroud Nomads 29
Next Fixture: Saturday 25 January at Archway School v Newent 2nd XV KO 1415.
Nomads travelled to Cheltenham for a Friday night fixture with a squad of 19 players plus a sizeable 1st team supporters group, which shows the spirit and togetherness of the playing squad. A cold, dry night and of course an Artificial Grass Pitch provided the perfect conditions for open rugby and the game that followed did not disappoint.
1 Lee Marshall 2 Sam Davies 3 Damien Cox 4 Adam Clark 5 Nick Stringer 6 Mark Phillips 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Cory Baker 9 Callum Gibbs 10 Lex Brookes 11 Alex Nash 12 Chris Toon 13 Tom Taylor 14 Dom Stephenson 15 Jordan Phipps Reps: Jess Stevens, Asher Courts, Mark Samak, James Nash.
Nomads began in positive fashion - after Marshall had secured the kick off, strong carries from Clark and Baker took play up to halfway before Cheltenham transgressed at the breakdown. A raking touch finder from Brookes gave Nomads an early opportunity inside the opposition 22. Davies and Stringer combined to provide secure ball and the platform to set up a driving maul. The pack surged towards the line but an unfortunate loss of control prevented a score. Nomads continued to camp in the Cheltenham 22 but initially struggled to cross the line. Close range pick and goes were halted and Cheltenham were able to clear. Eventually from another clean line out take, Gibbs spread play to Brookes, who found Toon cutting back against the grain on a powerful line to crash over. 0-5.
Some elusive running from the Cheltenham winger made a massive amount of ground from a Nomads clearance kick. Linking with his forwards the ball was transferred out wide for their right winger to cross in the corner. 5-5.
Cheltenham made great use of the driving lineout after a penalty kick to the corner. Although Nomads were able to halt the initial surge, Cheltenham exploited a gap close to the breakdown for a forward to power over. Try Converted. 12-5.
Cheltenham regularly looked to kick for territory but Stephenson and Phipps always looked to take play straight back at the opposition and ran strongly out of defence. Phipps in particular was seemingly making ground at ease and one carry took play 50m up field before Gibbs fed Baker and then Phillips and Davies to continue the momentum. Brookes freed Phipps on the outside for the Full Back to show his pace and scorch in on the left. Phipps converted. 12-12.
A misjudged take at the kick-off worked in Stroud’s favour as Phillips snapped up the loose ball and set off on a powerful burst up the right wing. Evading a number of tacklers less than half his age he offloaded to Flanagan to continue the attack. Gibbs and Brookes combined to free Stephenson for a strong run up the wing and he was unlucky to have been adjudged to have had a foot in touch. Good pressure at the line-out from Clark forced a knock on that was secured by Flanagan. Another typically direct line from Toon took play forward before efficient handling from the backs allowed Taylor to find Phipps, who once again outstripped the defence to cross in the corner. 12-17.
Again Cheltenham made use of their catch and drive to pressurise the Nomads line. This time the maul was brought down illegally and the Cheletenham backs used the opportunity of free ball to throw a long miss pass that bounced kindly into the hands of the winger, who crossed to level the scores. Try Converted. 19-17.
Half TimeCheltenham 2nd XV 19Stroud Nomads 17
Courts replaced Toon with Flanagan moving out to the centre whilst James Nash replaced Alex Nash on the wing at Half Time.
Cheltenham scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half to open up a commanding lead. Both tries came from a mixture of good Cheltenham handling and some rare Stroud miscommunication in defence. Nomads defended the first and second phases well but were sucked in on a number of occasions allowing Cheltenham to exploit space out wide. 31-17.
With 25 minutes to go, Samak replaced Phillips whist Stevens made a welcome return to the Nomads setup replacing Cox. Although behind, Nomads spirit could not be questioned and they always looked to take play to Cheltenham. Phipps as ever was combative and elusive and always caused the defence major problems whilst Brookes carried strongly making superb use of the handoff in the process. One Brookes run was halted by an unfortunate tip tackle that earned Cheltenham a red card. Buoyed by this, Nomads pressed forward with Phipps taking a quick tap and go. Linking with Baker and Samak, Nomads moved into the Cheltenham 22 before Gibbs found Clark on the burst. He was stopped just short as was Marshall with a short range pick and go but Cheltenham had encroached offside. Alert as ever, Phipps took another quick tap and forced his way over from close range. 31-22.
Phillips returned in place of Baker although Baker’s rest was short lived as he returned in place of the injured Gibbs. A solid take at the kick off from Stringer provided the platform for the next series of Nomads attacks. Brookes again looked to carry and again made significant ground. Phipps fed Samak and Phillips to continue the momentum before he himself spotted a miss-match up the middle and outstripped the covering forwards. Running 40m he crossed the line for what appeared to be his fourth try of the evening only to selflessly offload to the supporting James Nash, to give the young winger his moment of glory. Phipps converted. 31-29. Toon miraculously returned to the field in place of Taylor despite a leg injury.
With 5 minutes to play Nomads were now right back in this game and continued to press on. Marshall made significant ground up the middle with a great run before Flanagan and Stephenson linked well to advance up the right before the forwards took over with strong carries from Clark and Phillips. The pressure forced Cheltenham into conceding a penalty. Baker’s long distance effort was unsuccessful but Nomads were able to secure possession from the clearance. One last attack saw another snipe from Phipps and carries from Phillips and Clark forcing Cheltenham to again transgress at the breakdown. The kicking duties switched back to Phipps but his kick went agonisingly wide - just the wrong side of the post. An unfortunate end for a fantastic all round performance from the Full Back/Scrum Half, who was a clear Man of the Match.
The final whistle went bringing an end to a pulsating 80 minutes, which were played in excellent spirit by both teams. This was a fine advert for 2nd team rugby and showed how far the Nomads have come in the last few months both in terms of their squad size and in the positive attacking rugby that they are playing. Although the result did not quite materialise, this was a hugely positive evening for the lads, who should now push on, commit and continue to develop throughout the rest of the season.
Full Time Cheltenham 2nd XV 31Stroud Nomads 29
Next Fixture: Saturday 25 January at Archway School v Newent 2nd XV KO 1415.
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