MATCH REPORT: TEWKESBURY RFC VS STROUD RUGBY

MATCH REPORT BY MARK SAMAK

Stroud were back in action after a six week break and made the journey up the M5 to Tewkesbury.  Despite the difficulties the local area has had with flooding, the pitch was in remarkable condition and with the rain abating, conditions were set fair as Stroud looked to continue their pre-Christmas momentum.

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

Tewkesbury kicked off; Rodway secured the ball despite the strong breeze blowing across the pitch.  Stroud began well, going through a number of phases before Collins and Sykes combined out wide to make significant ground up the right.  Unfortunately, a lack of control in the subsequent phase meant the first foray into the Tewkesbury 22 went unrewarded.  This became quite a common theme throughout the game with Stroud appearing to dominate territory but not always come away with points.

Stroud were forced into an early change with Lambert suffering a head knock and being replaced by Fruin with Rodway moving up into the second row and Cremins to Number 8.  The scrummage was extremely solid with Richings, Davies and Allen getting lower than their much larger counterparts in the Tewkesbury front row.  Stroud’s own ball was solid and the pack caused enough disruption to allow Ashenford to be a constant threat to both the opposition Number 8 and Scrum Half and the base.

Stroud as ever looked to spread the ball wide and Hoyle’s delayed pass gave Leworthy enough room to use his sledgehammer fend and surge up the middle and into the 22.  Once again, Stroud were a bit too eager and an isolated runner was turned over allowing Tewkesbury to clear.  Hester was next to make yardage, scything through the defence and only stopped by an excellent covering tackle from the Tewkesbury Full Back.  This time the ball was retained and carries from Cremnins and Fruin looked to have set the platform for a Stroud score however an uncharacteristic handling error halted the attack.  The lineout was on occasions a source of solid possession – the Davies-Stokes link working efficiently and from one secure take Hoyle fed Leworthy on a hard line and once again the skipper surged up the middle.  Control this time was evident in the Stroud play as recycled ball was spread wide by Ashenford to Hester, who released Collins to cross out wide despite the attention of two covering tacklers. 0-5.

Stroud’s defence was excellent with the back row of Fruin, Flanagan and Cremins very much to the fore. Flanagan as ever was chopping down anything in a black shirt whilst Fruin and Cremins were always a threat over the ball and certainly won their share of turnovers to negate any Tewkesbury attacks before they made the Stroud 22.

Even though Stroud were dominating territory, there was still only the one score to show for their endeavour after half an hour.  The final ten minutes of the half however contained everything that is good about Stroud’s attacking play.  Ironically, it was the defence the began with the momentum with a solid defensive scrum allowing Ashenford to hassle at the base and Flanagan to profit from scrappy ball.  Hoyle spread the ball wide and this time Collins combined with Bonham to release the left winger to drive up the touchline and into the opposition half. Recycled ball and transfer back to the right found Leworthy on the charge and although his wrecking ball run was stopped bravely a well-timed offload to Ashenford supporting on the inside, allowed the nine to cross under the posts. Hester converted. 0-12.

Half Time         Tewkesbury RFC           0          Stroud Rugby 12

Excellent line speed at the start of the second half repelled Tewkesbury’s big ball carriers and again Fruin was at the heart of the defensive effort, forcing a turnover and allowing Hester to kick into the 22.  Davies found Stokes in the middle and the drive looked as if it would take Stroud over with Allen controlling the ball.  Tewkesbury’s defence was also resolute and again Stroud were denied in the red zone.

When Stroud were able to go through the phases, gaps began to appear in the Tewkesbury defence.  Collins released Bonham for a strong run up the left wing, quick ball allowed Ashenford to feed Hoyle, who in turn found Stokes to take the ball on a suck in more tacklers before the play was spread wider to Hester.  An outside break took play once again into the 22 and this time Stroud were not to be denied with Ashenford picking from the ruck and showing his acceleration on the outside arc to sprint over in the corner. 0-17.

Stroud continued to dominate territory but again failed to convert their advantage when loose ball was picked up by Tewkesbury and spread wide to their left winger, who showed great pace to race in from 70m despite a brave last ditch covering from Hester. 5-17.

Wilkes replaced Leworthy whilst Stone came on for Davies.  The Stroud scrummage remained solid all afternoon and from one secure possession, Bonham showed his strength with a strong carry up the middle before Cremins and Rodway took play on.  Again, a handling error stopped the progress but momentum was certainly still on the Stroud side.

A reshuffle in the back division saw Bonham and Wilkes combine in the centre while Hester dropped to Full Back and Collins moving to the wing.  The centres combined well to release Sykes on the right, who as ever beat the first man to give Stroud front foot ball.  A number of forward phases followed as Stroud began to exert control.  Wilkes carried well off Hoyle and excellent support from Flanagan allowed Ashenford to feed Fruin crashing through and stepping the covering defence before running in under the posts from 20m for a well-deserved score and the bonus point. Hester Converted 5-24.

Davies returned to the field replacing Allen for the final ten minutes, and continued the strong work in the scrum.  Stroud’s final score of the day again came from patiently building a number of phases with Fruin, Davies and Stokes making the hard yards before Ashenford and Hoyle fed Wilkes, who took play within metres of the line before another quick clear out from Flanagan allowed Hester to pick from the base and drive over in the corner. 5-29.

Full Time          Tewkesbury RFC           5                      Stroud Rugby   29
 
After a six-week break, five points on the road was an excellent result for the squad.  Attitude, commitment and defensive organisation was of a hugely high level and despite not always showing the control and execution in the opposition 22, there were plenty of positives to be taken from the afternoon. With competition for places increasing and the re-emergence of the Nomads last week, Stroud can certainly start 2023 in a positive frame of mind however the challenges will continue to come, not least next Friday (20 January) when Stroud host in-form Widden Old Boys under lights Kick Off 7:30pm.

Man of the Match: Phil Fruin