MATCH REPORT: Newent RFC II's vs Stroud

Newent 2nd XV 7 Stroud Rugby 64

Stroud Run in 10 on the Road.

Stroud were back in action, keen to build on last week’s local derby win with a trip to play Newent 2nd XV. Changes in personnel, due to a number of injuries did not dampen the positive vibe that early season results had generated. A warm, sunny afternoon allowed Stroud to exhibit increased cohesion between backs and forwards and run in 10 tries.

1 Zinzan Cremmins 2 Connor Voyce 3 Tom Warner 4 Chase Stokes 5 Mark Samak 6 Phil Fruin 7 Mark Phillips 8 Rob Higgins 9 Joe Ashenford 10 Jake Marsh 11 Oscar Adamson 12 Cory Baker 13 Sam Leworthy 14 Sam Strange 15 Chris Toon 16 Sam Davies 17 Tom Flanagan 18 Iain Bushell

The Stroud kick-off was not collected by Newent and instantly gave Stroud territorial advantage. The home lineout misfired allowing Samak to steal the ball, at the tail, before driving into the 22. Ashenford orchestrated early forward carries from Cremmins and Phillips before cleverly switching play back to the left, where Marsh was able to jink past his opposite number to open the scoring. Ashenford Converted. 0-7.
Stroud were soon back on the attack from a centre field scrum. Higgins and Ashenford combined to feed Toon, who released Strange on the right wing to take play within 15m of the line. Excellent clear out work put the ball on a plate for Ashenford to feed Warner on a typically bullocking charge. Continuing the forward drives, Phillips took the ball to the line before offloading in the tackle to Baker, who was dragged down just short of the line. Great work at the breakdown from Voyce and Fruin allowed Ashenford to find Marsh to crash over from short range close to the posts. 0-14.

Forward domination in the loose and in the scrummage had set the platform for this quick start and the momentum continued despite the unfortunate loss of Warner after an acrobatic claim from the restart. Davies came on at hooker with Voyce moving to prop. Voyce was also showing unerring accuracy at the lineout finding both Higgins and Stokes with regularity. All the forwards were eager to carry and strong work from Cremmins, Samak and Phillips took play up to halfway before the ball was spread wider. Excellent hands from Baker and Toon freed Strange to again make huge ground on the right wing. He seemed certain to score but was stopped by an excellent covering tackle but fine support from Leworthy enabled the skipper to cross in the corner. Ashenford continued his excellent form with the boot. 0-21.

Possession was being dominated by Stroud, who were showing the control that had been missing in previous games. The forwards were to the fore with the huge experience of Higgins, Phillips and Samak (combined age of almost 135!!) particularly prominent in leading the charge. The young guns were not to be out done however and a massive carry from Cremmins, supported by Fruin forced Newent into conceding a penalty. Ashenford – alert as ever- took a quick tap and was off at pace towards the posts. 30m later, support was on hand and Baker fed Marsh to dot down in the corner, for his hat-trick. Ashenford once again slotted the extras from a tight angle. 0-28.

Further Stroud pressure and a strong carry from Leworthy forced another penalty that Marsh kicked deep into the 22. The Voyce – Higgins link ensured clean ball and set up a powerful drive that Newent did well to repel. The drive had sucked in so many defenders that Ashenford’s pass allowed Strange to stroll into the corner unopposed. 0-33.

To their credit, Newent did not back down and earned a penalty, which forced Stroud back into their 22 for the first time in the game. Further indiscipline at the breakdown gave the home side the opportunity to tap and go. Despite brave defence from Stokes and Phillips, Newent were able to drive over from close range by the posts. 7-33.

This setback galvanised Stroud even further. Stokes and Fruin forced a turnover from the restart before carries from Higgins, Samak and Cremmins provided quick ball for Marsh and the backs to show excellent handling and allow Strange to score once again. 7-38.
Stroud’s final score of the half stemmed from more solid defence, forcing Newent to kick. Toon ran the ball back before feeding Higgins. The Number 8 then showed off his cultured left boot with a pinpoint 50m kick, which under the new laws gave Stroud the throw inside the opposition 22. Phillips and Baker combined in another powerful midfield surge before more swift distribution from Ashenford allowed Marsh to hit Leworthy on a hard line and from 10m out the skipper was unstoppable. Ashenford converted. 7-45.

Half Time Newent 2nd XV 7 Stroud Rugby 64

Despite playing up the slope, Stroud were quickly back on the attack with powerful surges from Higgins, Davies and Fruin taking play into the Newent half. The ball was then spread wider for Adamson to show his pace and elusiveness to take the play into the 22. Flanagan and the ever willing Cremmins provided further momentum for Marsh to hit Toon this time on the hard line and the Full Back cruised in to the left of the posts. Ashenford Converted. 7-52.

Newent enjoyed more possession in the second half but found Stroud’s defence secure. Stokes in particular was relishing the defensive challenge and on a number of occasions drove carriers back, who were far larger than himself. Davies and Phillips as ever were getting through their share of tackling and with little ground being made Newent were forced to kick. Adamson once again looked dangerous in open play, stepping and twisting to make 30m before being dragged down. Ashenford sniped close to the ruck and found Voyce in support for the hooker to rum in under the posts. 7-59.

Scrums in the second half had more parity as Newent won their own ball securely but Stroud always had the ascendancy in attacking intent. Yet another bulldozing drive from Cremmins, allowed Ashenford to feed Bushell to free the backs. Leworthy and Adamson combined well to make ground up the left before the ball was quickly switched to the right and secure handling from Bushell and Baker released Davies to cross wide on the right to complete the scoring. 7-64.

Full Time Newent 2nd XV 7 Stroud Rugby 64

This was indeed an excellent display from Stroud with forwards and backs combining to show patience, control and accuracy when working through phases. Each week has seen development and this game should now set the bar in terms of the standards this team are capable of. Although the backs ran in most of the tries, special praise should be heaped upon the work of all the forwards, who provided a solid platform both in set-piece and in open play. Special mention to Zinzan Cremmins for his tireless carrying and to Man of The Match, Chase Stokes, for an outstanding all-round performance in the line-out, in the loose and in defence.

Next League Game: Saturday 23 October (Home) v Norton RFC KO 1500
Next Week: Friendly v Chepstow RFC (Home) KO 1500