With no league rugby for either side this weekend, a friendly fixture was arranged to give the opportunity for the Nomads and yet more new faces to pull on the Stroud shirt. A cold but bright and dry afternoon at Fromehall encouraged a sizeable crowd to come along and enjoy a game between two evenly matched sides that had already had a closely fought fixture earlier in the season.

1 Ryan Poole 2 Owen Winstone 3 Ben Blossett 4 Joe Moylan 5 Keelan Jackson 6 Tom Holmes 7 Connor Voyce 8 Steve Areington 9 Lewis Holder 10 Iain Bushall 11 Rhys Bleach 12 Eddy Davey Jawara 13 Tom Johnson 14 Harry Cadwallader-Rowles 15 Fin Hill

Replacements: Jason Richings, Jake Pepperall, Harry Baker, James Ferry, Mark Phillips, Mark Samak, Josh Jenkins, Sam Strange.

Nomads applied pressure from the kick off and excellent defensive pressure from Voyce and Davey-Jawara forced an early handling error. Gordon League had the much more sizeable pack however Poole, Winstone and Blossett held firm to give Arerington a chance to secure possession. Strong early carries from Areington, Voyce and Moylan took play into the opposition 22 before Bushall spread play wider where excellent hands from Davey-Jawara and Johnson freed Hill to cruise in at the corner. 5-0.

Nomads looked to spread the ball wide and looked to have cut through again when excellent work from Johnson freed the livewire Cadwallader-Rowles to step and accelerate away from the defence. Unfortunately, play was brought back for a forward pass.

The structure both senior sides had worked so hard upon all season again bore fruition after twenty minutes. Poole and Holmes this time were the carriers, who gave the momentum before Holder and Bushall released the backs. In a carbon copy of the first try Davey-Jawara and Johnson released Hill to again show his pace to cross on the left. 10-0.

GL were themselves strong in the forward carry – Jackson and Voyce got through their share of tackling whilst Holmes was first on loose ball on a number of occasions and two particularly powerful surges helped release pressure when the ball was turned over on the Nomads line.
The unfortunate loss of both Blossett and Bushall on 25 minutes meant some reorganisation with Richings coming on in the front row and Cadwallader-Rowles moving in to scrum half with Holder moving out to fly half. Pepperall joined Bleach on the wing (both making their debut).

GL were coming more and more into the game with their strong set piece prevalent. Secure ball from a lineout and forward carry up the middle, forced Nomads on to the back foot. Quick ball and a show and go from their strong running fly-half saw an inside break allowing him to cross under the posts. Try converted. 10-7.

Half Time Stroud Nomads 10 Gordon League 2 7

The early stages of the second half were dominated, in terms of territory, by GL. The scrum was becoming an increasingly powerful weapon for them whilst Nomads were starved of possession for long periods. The defensive effort was valiant through the first 20 minutes of the second half with Voyce, Arerington and Davey-Jawara always in the thick of the action whilst Holmes continued his combative work in and around the breakdown. The pressure eventually resulted in two scores from their outside backs, who profited from strong carries from their forwards. With one of the tries converted GL took a 10-19 lead into the final quarter.

Nomads rang the changes, ensuring all of their squad had a run out. Defence continued to be the order of the day with GL not letting up. Phillips and Samak entered the action along with Strange and the veterans were soon involved in the rear-guard action. A strong tackle from Phillips forced a loose ball that was snaffled upon by Samak inside the Nomads 22. Cadwallader-Rowles and Holder were keen to attack and spread the ball wide to Johnson and Hill to release Strange on the wing. A kick ahead and chase forced an error that was capitalised on by Voyce before Winstone’s kick ahead took play up to 5m of the GL line. GL cleared from the lineout but Nomads were straight back on the attack with Jenkins collecting the clearance and finding Bleach to take the play back towards the 22. An infringement at the breakdown, allowed Holder to find touch in the corner. Despite the lineout not going to hand, Baker collected the loose ball at the back. Pick and goes from Moylan and Samak took play within the shadow of the posts before Voyce picked for a third time. A strong surge and a tremendous offload in contact found Phillips, who crashed over – dragging two tacklers with him for an excellent team score. 15-19.

Nomads looked to continue their pressure however the scrum continued to be a major weapon for GL and deprived Nomads of clean ball. GL themselves continued to press and looked to have driven over from a scrum of their own, only for superb work from Baker to deny them.

Full Time Stroud Nomads 15 Gordon League 2 19

Despite the result, there were many positives for the squad – least the fact that a 23-man squad had been put together, giving players valuable game time. Structure and organisation are building week on week even though the squad of players regularly changes. The effort and attitude of all players is providing a great cohesion and superb atmosphere for all regardless of age or experience.

Man of The Match: Tom Holmes

Next Fixtures:
1st Team - Saturday 2 December v Hucclecote (Away) KO TBC
Nomads – Saturday 2 December v Matson 3 (Home) 2:30pm KO