Fromehall Park looked resplendent under the Friday night lights as Stroud welcomed in-form Widden Old Boys for their re-arranged match from last month. A cool, dry night and a pitch in remarkably good condition for the time of year would hopefully allow for an open, expansive and competitive game that would entertain the sizable crowd.

Stroud: 1 Jason Richings 2 Sam Davies 3 Tommy Allen 4 Chase Stokes 5 Will Tidey 6 Aaron Raath 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Zinzan Cremins 9 Joe Ashenford 10 Joe Hoyle 11 Matt Collins 12 Sam Leworthy (Captain) 13 Ben Wilkes 14 Pete Sykes 15 Sam Hester Replacements: 16 Tom Stone 17 Kieran Rodway 18 Elliott Bonham

The opening salvos would show the physical intensity that would be prevalent throughout the entire game. Stroud as ever were looking to combine their forward pod work with the ambition to spread the ball wider to their exciting back division. Widden were however were more than up to the task defensively, putting in a number of powerful early tackles that ensured that Stroud knew they were in for a battle. Raath and Cremins carried powerfully as usual but any significant gains up the middle were nullified. Ashenford and Hoyle looked to spread play wider but Leworthy and Wilkes were also being well marshalled. Stroud were not lacking in their own defensive efforts with Cremins, Flanagan and Davies getting through more than their share of tackles against powerful Widden carries. Stroud unfortunately lost their leading scorer – Hester – through injury, which forced a reshuffle in the back three with Collins switching to Full Back and Bonham coming on to the wing. The Stroud scrummage was again powerful and forced Widden to often scramble the ball away on their put in with Richings, Davies and Allen continuing to lead the efforts from the front row. Line-outs were less efficient but Tidey and Stokes were able to secure some ball to allow Stroud to build.

The first score of the game was against the run of play. Widden went off their feet at the breakdown and from the resultant penalty, Ashenford - as alert as ever - saw the opportunity to tap and go. Making 40m up field, he was able to link with Leworthy before an inter-change of passes involving the supporting Davies and Hoyle freed Bonham to race in out wide. 5-0.

Stroud were soon back under pressure as an error from the restart gave Widden possession in a threatening position. Great line speed in defence, led by Leworthy and Wilkes forced a turnover and allowed Hoyle to clear. The physicality of the carries and hits remained as the half moved on but Stroud were able to extend their lead after a number of phases the ball was spread wider and a high tackle gave Ashenford the opportunity to slot three points from the tee. 8-0.

As always Stroud were keen to exploit the width at Fromehall and began to stretch the Widden defensive unit. Both Bonham and Sykes were seeing plenty of the ball and Sykes was soon to join his fellow winger on the score sheet. Carries from Raath and Cremins gave quick ball that set the platform for Hoyle to spread the ball left; Wilkes ran a great line before finding Sykes with an inside ball for the winger to cruise over. 13-0.

Stroud’s ball retention and phase play continued to develop and a crucial third score just before half-time was just reward for their work. Leworthy was becoming more and more influential with his destructive hand-off and surge gaining huge yardage. One such carry and good retention from the forwards allowed Hoyle to free Raath in the wider channels for the flanker to crash over in the right-hand corner. 18-0.

Half Time Stroud 18 Widden OB 0

Stone replaced Davies as the second half began in very much the same way as the first. Intense commitment from both sides was prominent and significant gains were tough to come by. The skipper again took mantle of carrier in chief and powered 50m up field into the Widden 22. Patience, something that has increased massively through the season, was shown by Stroud as Stokes and Flanagan continued the momentum before Ashenford found Raath on the surge for the flanker to storm over by the posts. Ashenford converted. 25-0.

Stroud were now stretching the Widden defence with Collins proving elusive in his kick returns and Leworthy and Wilkes carrying well in the wider channels. Gaps were beginning to appear in the tighter areas with the physical effort beginning to impact. Stroud’s improved fitness certainly came to the fore as the game approached its final quarter. Rodway, who had replaced Stokes, carried hard up the middle before Wilkes was equally as direct continuing the momentum. A series of secure phase pushed play into the 22 before Raath linked well with Flanagan for the hard-working flanker to score a well-deserved try. 30-0.

If the previous tries had been a product of great team-work, the next score show-cased some individual skill. Appreciating the space in behind the Widden defensive press, a beautifully weighted chip from his own 22 from Hoyle was gathered on the charge by skipper Leworthy, who charged 60m up field dragging the scrambling defence over with him to score. 35-0.
To their credit, Widden were never going to lie down and their powerful carriers forced a penalty that drove them into the Stroud 22. A highly efficient line-out and first up carry took play over the advantage line before a well-judged cross kick from their fly-half enabled competition for the catch out wide. A little confusion allowed the Widden winger to touch down. Try Converted. 35-7.

Stroud looked to play in the right territory and excellent kicking options from both Ashenford and Hoyle forced Widden back. One spiralling kick from Hoyle forced an error from the Widden Full-Back. From the ensuing solid scrum, Ashenford fed Leworthy, who showed variation and found Hoyle out the back. A well-timed pass found Bonham on a great line from the opposite wing and he crashed over from 10m out for a well-worked first phase score. 40-7.

Competing to the end, Widden continued to carry hard up the middle but excellent chop-tackling from Flanagan and Davies (replaced Collins), forced a turnover that Ashenford was quick to exploit. Counter-attacking up the middle, he took play deep into the Widden half before more patient play from Cremins and Rodway sucked defenders in before Sykes was released into space and sped over from 25m and around under the posts. Ashenford converted. 47-7.
The final score of the night deservedly went to Widden as a series of phases ended with a score in the right-hand corner. 47-12.

Full Time Stroud 47 Widden OB 12

This was a hugely hard-fought win for Stroud and the score line didn’t really reflect the competitive nature of the game. This physicality and intensity shown by both sides were some of the highest of the season so far and produced a great spectacle for a crowd, who created a great atmosphere with both sets of supporters equally vocal. Thanks to both sets of players and supporters, who showed the fantastic occasion that Friday night rugby can produce.

Stroud look to continue their momentum with their final home game of the season as they welcome Fairford RFC to Fromehall next Saturday (4th March) Kick Off 2:30pm.