MATCH REPORT: STROUD RUGBY VS OLD CRYPTIANS RFC II's

Report by Mark Samak
 
Stroud hosted Old Cryptians 2nd XV on a fantastic Spring afternoon at Fromehall, looking to complete their league season with a win and secure 4th Place.  The squad was indeed a youthful one (with two exceptions!) – featuring five Colts players in the squad.

After a few early errors, Stroud got into their stride with a great scrum. A huge surge from the front row took the ball against the head allowing Leworthy to pick from the base. A show and go gave him space to surge up to the Crypts 10m line before a well-timed offload to Marsh allow the centre to cruise in from 40m. 5-0.

Stroud looked to attack wide at every opportunity – not every pass went to hand but in general the handling, running lines and support were excellent entertainment for the sizeable crowd.  When Crypts had possession, the Stroud defence was solid and often forced a kick.  One kick was well returned by Collins with a sinuous outside break before an inside ball to the supporting Leworthy to cross.  Hammonds converted. 12-0.

The next try came from superb defensive work from Fruin, both holding the player up and ripping the ball to force a turnover. Ashenford fed Cremmins, who instead of his trademark bullocking charge showed great hands to release the backs.  Hammonds found Marsh on an outside arc to step the full back and run in for his second.  Hammonds converted.  19-0. (Vale replaced Marsh).

An excellent take at the restart from Leworthy set up the next attack. Ashenford fed Phillips, who tipped on to Fruin to make good ground up the middle. Quick ball allowed Ashenford to release Hammonds on the left to hit Samak(D) on a hard line. The centre burst through the first tackle before accelerating away from the defence to score under the posts. Hammonds converted. 26-0.

An 80m score soon followed. From a scrum on their own 22, Stroud again looked to attack wide.  Hammonds found Samak(D), who gave a return pass to the looping Hammonds who fed Wilkes for the winger to steam up the left wing before finding Hammonds supporting on the inside to finish off a great team try.  Hammonds converted. 33-0. (Stone replaced Phillips).

The backs were soon back in action – great hands from Vale released Wilkes to hit a searching 50-22 kick.  Hayes and Stokes were winning ball comfortably at the lineout and set up Cremmins for a crash up the middle that was only halted by a last-ditch tackle.   Despite Cryptians, clearing their lines great pressure from Flanagan forced an error and gave Stroud another attacking scrum.  Vale carried well off Hammonds before Ashenford switched play back for Hayes to surge up the middle.  Leworthy then picked a hard line off Ashenford and the skipper crossed for his second.  Hammonds converted. 40-0.

Cremmins had a 40m surge up the right from the restart before being tackled into touch.  An excellent lineout steal from Hayes was well secured by Fruin, who set up the next attack with a carry infield before finding Hammonds.  A deft pass found Leworthy on another hard line and the skipper need no invitation to plough through a number of tackles before crossing for his hat-trick.  Hammonds converted. 47-0.

More fine defence from Vale allowed Ashenford to force a turnover and from the resultant penalty the scrum-half showed his usual awareness to take a quick tap and go to get behind the defence.  He found Leworthy again supporting on a close line and yet again he was able to surge in from 40m.  Hammonds converted. 54-0.

The final try of the half was another long-range effort.  Leworthy snaffled a line-out before setting off on a 50m surge up beyond halfway.  Flanagan provide the link and carried on the momentum before the backs again took over.  Straight hands from Hammonds and Samak(D) put Vale into space before yet another unselfish inside ball allowed Samak(D) to run in for his second try.  Hammonds converted. 61-0.

Half Time         Stroud Rugby   61                    Old Cryptians 2nd XV     0

Marsh returned to the field in place of Collins whilst Samak(M) replaced Fruin with Stone moving up to hooker. Flanagan and Samak(M) held up a Cryptians carrier to give Stroud an early attacking opportunity in the second half.  From the scrum, Hammonds found Samak(D) on the crash before the centre offloaded in the tackle to Marsh for the centre to run in to complete his hat-trick.  Hammonds converted. 68-0.

More combative defensive work from Flanagan forced a Cryptians error in their own 22.  From the scrummage, a Samak(M) pick released Ashenford, who found Vale running a good line for centre to score a well-deserved debut try.  Hammonds converted. 75-0.

A wide pass from Hammonds allowed Vale and Wilkes to combine to make significant ground up the left before Hammonds and Cremmins spread play back to the right.  Bonham was given the opportunity to show his elusiveness despite having to collect a loose ball.  Driving into the 22, ball was recycled for Phillips to drive on before Ashenford had a snipe and passed out of the tackle for Hammonds to canter in under the posts.  Hammonds converted. 82-0.

Short range pick and goes from Leworthy and Samak(M) gave some momentum before Cremmins crashed through close to the ruck and burst into the 22.  Despite being dragged down, quick ball allowed Ashenford to feed Bonham for the winger to cross out wide.  Hammonds again converted. 89-0.

Phillips crashed on from Leworthy’s take at the restart before Ashenford fed Samak(M) to continue the momentum.  Once again, the ball went wide with Leworthy on this occasion turning provider, releasing Samak(D) to sprint in from 40m up the left wing.  Hammonds converted. 96-0.

Crypts to their credit never gave up and capitalised on a rare Stroud handling error for their centre to pick up and run in from 70m to cross out wide on the right. 96-5.
The final word though deservedly went to Stroud; a superb reclaim from Leworthy at the restart and offload to Wilkes allowed the winger to press up towards the 22 before linking with Hayes.  Ashenford found Debieux running hard to crash within 5m of the line.  Fittingly the backs completed the move with Ashenford feeding Hammonds, whose out the back ball found Marsh again finding that outside arc to cross out wide.  Hammonds completed a near perfect afternoon from the tee. 103-5.

Full Time          Stroud Rugby   103                 Old Cryptians 2nd XV     5

This was a great end to the league season for Stroud.  A 4th place finish in what has been a huge learning curve for a large number of players has proved encouraging and has given the squad the opportunity to build for the future.  With 5 Colts and many other players in their early twenties playing an expansive brand of rugby in the last few months – significant progress has undoubtedly been made this season.  Massive thanks should go to all the players that have represented the club this season but also to all the loyal supporters that have followed and encouraged the team both home and away throughout their 20 games.

Next Fixture: Combination Cup Semi-Final (Home) v Fairford RFC Saturday 23 April KO 1500.