Rusty Stroud Frozen out by Bredon All Stars

It was Stroud’s first game since November due to quirk of fixture list and weather abandonments. It would be a good challenge to see how quick they could get back into match shape after this layoff. A game easier than a County Cup fixture against Bredon Star would have been nice but we can only get better by facing Top 5 teams like Bredon.

Bredon had worked wonders to source another pitch at Churchdown school. Even so the ground was hard, nearly as cold as the Alps where coach Jo was enjoying a well earnt break. The pitch was deemed playable by both sets of coaches so the game was able to start which was a relief for everyone. The only remaining drama was to have to limit the squad to 20 players due to cup rules and Jedd, Callum and Edgar were good enough to volunteer to sit out – many thanks to them.

First Half

Forwards: Liam, Orgy, Stoner, Mr T, Laurie, Keyan
Backs: Hilly, Will, Dave, Arthur, Joe, Finn, Alex
Subs: Darrian, Flash, Archie, Harry x3, Lucas

Stroud kicked off and Bredon knocked on. Stroud won their scrum but the ball went loose on the ground and cold hands knocked it on. Bredon won their scrum and ran a quick move to the right and then their big centre cut back inside and with a powerful run brushed off the tackles and scored from distance for a 1-0 lead.

Bredon kicked off and Will caught the ball and ran it back well. Keyan took it on at pace and ran to the left. A well supporting Stoner then made more good yardage. Good recycling by Laurie gave Keyan another chance to attack. He threatened the line but good Bredon defence forced a turnover and they kicked deep. Alex caught the ball well and attacked straight back but more stout defence stopped the move and Bredon were awarded a penalty. They quickly took it and ran left. Good Stroud defence slowed them up but quick recycled ball gave Bredon another good platform to attack from. Their big guy took it on and threatened another strong run and as multiple tacklers closed him on him he threw a great long pass to the left winger who had an easy run to the line for a 2-0 lead.

Bredon kicked off and Dave ran it back well. In the breakdown Orgy and Mr T did good clearouts and Stroud were able to attack left with good ball from Hilly. Stoner went on a typical rampaging run but was hauled down eventually. The ball came loose and Bredon kicked it on but Finn recovered it well and ran left. Keyan was supporting well and went for the pick and run but was unlucky to knock on under pressure from the strong Bredon forwards. Bredon won the scrum and big guy attacked right and as a last gasp Stroud tackle forced him to check his run it didn’t matter because he threw a sweet pass inside to a well supporting player who scored another try. 3-0 to Bredon. Now it was becoming clear what Bredon’s plan was. Feed the big guy. He needed a nickname. BAFTA seemed appropriate as he was well supported by other stars and well directed by the Bredon coaching staff. BAFTA standing for Big Athletic Fast Tall Adam.

Bredon kicked off and Stroud knocked on. Bredon quickly moved the ball though and attacked down the left but were pushed out of play. Stroud took the line-in and then were awarded a scrum that they won well. As a good move went to the left it was spoilt by strong Bredon pressure that forced Arthur to knock-on. Bredon won the scrum and attacked left and right but good tackling managed to hold them at bay. A turnover was forced and Will made the right decision and did a great long kick. A good kick chase put the full back under pressure but Bredon showed good technique to keep the ball alive and only strong tackling from Dave and Orgy kept them at bay. The inevitable happened though and the ball came out to BAFTA and he ran it in from distance for 4-0 lead.

Time for some sub changes and Laurie, Mr T, Joe and Finn were replaced by Darrian, Lucas, Archie and Flash. Bredon kicked off and Dave caught again and ran it back and as space closed down he did a clever kick over the top that Bredon fielded well and then ran back to the right but a forward pass was called. Stroud won the scrum and went left. Alex took a straight crash ball from Will and made some good yardage. Bredon were penalised and Keyan took the penalty ran and attacked down the left and we thought he had fended off all the tackles and scored in the corner but the ref called a foot in touch so the score remained at 4-0. Bredon took the line-in and kicked very long and very high – I was sure there was snow on it went it eventually came down. Alex showed great technique to run back and catch it over his shoulder and then turn up field and attack and pass ball to Arthur to keep move alive. Another Bredon penalty and this time Darrian took the attacking pass. He was slowed up but Lucas was there to also put in a strong run.

Stroud were threatening the line again but Bredon won another turnover. Again they made the right decision and ran it out so far and then spotting a gap kicked long. Alex dived on the loose ball but it squirmed loose but Archie was in great position to pick up the ball and keep it under Stroud control. The ball was kept alive and Dave kicked long and Bredon knocked on. Stroud won the scrum and good hands with the backs got the ball out to Flash on the wing who attacked well. More good Bredon tackling stopped the move and a knock-on gave Bredon another scrum that they duly won and BAFTA got the ball and attacked deep again and scored in the left wing for a 5-0 lead. He was very close to being tackled out of play but coach and linesman Mark was struggling to keep up with play to be able to call it clearly. This Nomad rugby on Saturday was having unintended impacts on Sunday mornings! With BAFTA scoring from all areas of the pitch we now we know what its like to be Dursley or Tetbury when Keyan, Dave etc attack from deep repeatedly and out-run players or run them over and score from deep.

This was going to be a real test. 5-0 down and the injuries starting to mount. Could Stroud put on a performance that the coaching staff had requested in the pre-game briefing?

Bredon kicked off and Keyan ran it back strongly and was shredding tackles left right and centre. He was held up short of the line but Stroud were awarded a scrum but Bredon managed to win it. They kicked short and Dave caught it cleanly and ran left and passed well to Arthur who kept attacking well. Bredon were penalised at the breakdown and Will showed great vision to take a quick penalty and pass to Keyan who scored in left corner for 5-1.

Strouds turn to kick off and we forced a quick turnover. Darrian went on a good run down right wing. Teams traded good attacking moves and stout defending. The ball popped loose and Dave scooped it up at pace and ran down the right wing and just as we thought the covering tackle would deny him he side stepped inside to score another try and close to 5-2. Half time whistle went and bruised bodies stopped for a well earnt breather.

Half Time: Bredon 5 – 2 Stroud

Delia assessed the various injuries and Dave and Keyan were ruled out for the rest of the game so the subs bench would get a good workout and chance to blood (hopefully not literally) the newer players in a tough game. The coaches rejigged the team with Alex moving into the centres alongside Arthur and both tasked with tackling BAFTA.

Another problem presented itself and that was how to name the 3 Harry’s. Mark’s son became Sauce – as in his initials HP. Winger Harry becomes Nibbler and Forward Harry can stay as Harry until we can make up better names.

Bredon kicked off and Finn ran it back. Archie supported well and took on the attack. A forward pass stopped the attack though and Bredon won their scrum and ball to BAFTA meant only one thing. Another swerving run, pushing off tackles and scoring from distance for a 6-2 lead.

Bredon kicked off and Harry ran it back. Will H got the recycled ball and kicked long and Stroud managed to win turnover ball at the next ruck. Alex attacked straight and was tackled high so Stroud took their penalty and Will kicked into space. Bredon were penalised and Stoner took the tap penalty and made more good yardage. Stroud were awarded a scrum and Arthur attacked right but was stopped 10m short of the whitewash. Flash at scrum half fed a perfect pass to Liam who was running at pace and somehow was stopped right on the line when a try seemed to be the only outcome from his fab run. Liam was injured and left the pitch and didn’t return again.

Stroud were penalised and Bredon took the penalty and attacked from their own try line knowing they had the ball skills to do it. BAFTA was the attacking option of choice but other supporting players were equally skilled with taking the ball on. Stroud won a turnover and Harry attacked well, supported by Sauce. Orgy helped keep the ball alive for Nibbler to then have his own attack. Bredon forced another turnover and BAFTA attacked again but Arthur tackled him well – his reward was an injury which kept him out of remainder of the game. Bredon kept attacking though and camped themselves on the Stroud line but great defence kept them out until they were penalised. Stroud ran it out from under their posts and Finn showed great skill to weave his way through various tackles to get as far as halfway but had outrun his support. Bredon won another turnover but Nibbler was showing good tackle technique in his first game for Stroud.

Play ebbed and flowed both ways. Stroud had a penalty and Lucas took the ball at pace and ran over two players. Another penalty to Stroud and same result of Lucas dishing out a punishing run. Bredon forced a turnover and BAFTA attacked down the left but Stroud managed to contain him and force him inside where Stroud were awarded a scrum at next breakdown. Stroud attacked left and Joe did a great run. Good support from Stoner made more hard earnt yards. Then Finn attacked but Bredon showed good technique to win a turnover and before you could say ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ it was BAFTA barelling through the middle to score again for a 7-2 lead.

Bredon kicked off and Stroud knocked on. Bredon won their scrum and BAFTA took a crash ball and ran straight through some tackles to score again and 8-2 lead.

Stroud kicked off and BAFTA ran it back down the left wing with tiring players not able to bring him down. He was penalised for a hand-off though. Stroud took the penalty but knocked on. Bredon won the scrum and BAFTA took another crash ball and threatened to score again but OSCAR took him down strongly and Stroud won a scrum with a knock-on. BAFTA went off injured. Goes to show that in the battle of the film awards an OSCAR is still better. Who is this new player OSCAR ? Actually its Oldest Son Called Alex (of) Russell. Just trying to pad out the humour throughout the report to make it more bearable reading! If only OSCAR had beaten BAFTA 50 minutes earlier the game might have been a lot closer – but Bredon had plenty of other good players – forwards and backs - who would have carried the slack I am sure.

Stroud lost the resulting scrum though and the alert Bredon scrum half sniped for an easy score and 9-2 lead. Stroud kicked off and Bredon caught the ball and kicked it straight out to the shrill of the full-time whistle.

Final Score: Bredon 9-2 Stroud

Wrap-Up

Tunnels formed and players applauded each other off the pitch showing what great spirit the game was played in. Hard fought and fair and no bad tackles and great skill showed by both sets of players. We compared scorecards and agreed on the 9-2 scoreline because some thought it was 8-3. If Keyans try had counted and linesman Mark had seen a BAFTA foot out it would have been correct! Bredons coaches agreed that the scoreline didn’t do justice to the way the game was played and the game was closer than the scoreline suggested. Stroud coaches then agreed to score the game as 45-10 because it felt better to get into a double figure score ;-)

Team debrief was held and the coaches were very proud of the team performance under trying conditions. We had asked for a performance and we got one so that’s all we ask for – Stroud and Proud. Special mention again was made of the 3 players that had missed the game but were still part of the team effort.

We look forward to playing Bredon again later in the season and putting in a stronger performance. It was an enjoyable game and special thanks to Bredon for getting the game on. Shame there was no pasties afterwards as the kids had earnt them, but at least they didn’t need to get suited and booted.