Nomads give gritty display

A much changed Nomads team gave a gritty display against a strong Old Pats team and with a little more control at vital times during the game could have come out victors.

Almost from the kick off Old Pats showed their intent by opening up from their own 22 and eventually scoring a try after their forwards had driven Stroud off the ball and gave the winger a run to the line. Stroud came more into the game and with the slope in their favour some good threequarter play by scrum half Jordan Phipps, stand off Jamie Leworthy and centres Nathan Taylor and Dan Whittaker resulted in winger Matt Peachman outstripping the defence of Old Pats and scoring what seemed to be a good try, only to be called back after the touch judges flag was raised.

The game remained tight for the rest of the half, and with the half time whistle beckoning, 2nd Row Matt Leworthy won the ball for Stroud in his 22, good passing along the threequarters gave wing forward Tom Flanagan a long run from the halfway, which he did outstripping the defence and scoring at the posts, converted by Nathan Taylor.

The second half was very attritional with neither team gaining the upper hand. As the half wore on injuries on both sides stopped the flow of the game, and with the bigger forwards of Old Pats getting on top, the Stroud defence was breached twice by the Old Pats scrum half from broken play inside the 22.

Not to be out done Stroud upped their game and after strong pressure by the forwards, centre Nathan Taylor escaped down the wing and scored wide out. Nomads attacked again from the kick off and only desperate defence kept out wing Matt Peachman, from the ensuing play Old Pats threequarters broke out from their own half and their winger scored in the corner with the last play of the match.

Considering the number of changes Nomads made from the previous week, a good performance on the whole.

Next match Saturday 3rd November 2012 Stroud Nomads v Coney Hill 3rd XV at Home ko 2.30pm