Stroud in titanic battle against County Champs Clifton

Friday night non-contact training had been brutal and claimed victims for Sunday. Coach Samak had lost his 2nd lung to man-flu and was tucked up in bed with a Horlicks. Stoner had made it as far as warmups before his body gave up. The Gloucester DPP lads were still aching from their rowing machine challenge.

If only we had a quiet game to rest those limbs. Far from it. Clifton away was as tough as it gets. Perennial County Champs and a team that Stroud had never beaten. 43-5 loss in U14 County Cup, 44-21 loss as U15s. What could the U16s do today?

Start praying for good weather to help our passing game would help. But even the weather wasn’t kind. Blowing a gale, slick underfoot, and rain squalls queuing up to challenge players and parents alike.

Forwards: Lucas, Liam, Carlos, Darion, Laurie, Jake, Euan, Mr T
Backs: Hilly, Will, Dave, Arthur, Flash, Perys, Alex
Subs: Bernie, Jedd, Stoner, Orgy, Keyan, Lofty, Billy, James

Stroud kicked off and the wind held the ball up and a leaping Jake stole possession away from the Clifton catcher. Stroud went straight on the attack with Carlo and the forwards driving well and then Will gruber kicking behind the hard pressing Clifton line and the ball out of play. Clifton with their impressive lineout jumpers won the throw-in and set for a drive but Stroud were up for the challenge and created a maul and then won a scrum on the Clifton 22. That was the good news. Then it went wrong! Clifton put in a powerful scrum and stole the ball, they quickly spread the ball out to the right and their pacy backs out ran the Stroud defenders and scored a try from 70 metres out. The conversion was blown wide but Clifton had started fast – like normal – and scored from deep for a 5-0 lead – just like the last 2 games.

But this Stroud team was improved from previous seasons and wouldn’t give in easily. Could they beat the elements and their opponents?

Will kicked off again and Euan was there with the 1st tackle. The fast pressing Stroud defence forced Clifton to kick and they belted it 80 metres – wind and bounce assisted for sure – into the dead ball area. Stroud had a 22 drop-out that Will belted back to half way and a great kick chase forced a turnover that Jake and Carlo pounded up the field. Mr T put in a big carry and earnt a penalty. Will misread the wind and kicked it onto an adjacent flat roof and the ball refused to come down. Santa will have to collect it with his sleigh in 2 weeks.

Clifton jumped early so Stroud opted for a scrum restart that they duly won – Lucas, Liam and Carlo combining well to secure clean ball for Hilly. The backs attacked left but quick pressure forced a knock-on and Clifton kicked deep again. Stroud secured the ball and Will kicked back and Clifton ran it back powerfully but were penalised at the breakdown. Stroud had a lineout on the Clifton 10 that Laurie took superbly well under pressure and then went into a forwards drive. The backs took over and Alex made some yardage from a loose pass. Mr T and Jake then kept it tight with the forwards but Stroud were penalised as they got into the Clifton 22. Clifton kicked for touch but their low kick was superbly caught by Liam and he ran it back hard but all to no avail as the next run was knocked on in contact. Clifton won their scrum and their #8 went blind but an alert Euan was there to haul him down. Clifton showed great technique to keep the ball alive and work their way up the wing and then cut back inside and threaten another try. Arthur had tracked back well and stopped the Clifton runner in the Stroud 22 and then Flash intercepted the knocked-on ball but was promptly dumped on the floor so Stroud had a scrum restart for the knock-on.

Another good Stroud scrummage on their 22 and brave running from Arthur and Jake put pressure on the Clifton defense and they were penalised for side entry. Will kicked again and this time the 40mph winds took the ball over the stadium roof – and landed in Lapland as a reminder to Santa to collect the other ball from the Clifton roof. Another good lineout catch and drive got the ball into the Clifton hall. Hilly with more expert passing set the backs away to the left and Dave cut inside and as he was tackled offloaded to Arthur who kept the attack alive. Clifton were stretched and were forced to concede another penalty to stop Stroud from recycling quickly. Liam managed to catch his own throw-in as it was deflected by the Clifton jumper. Hilly went to snipe down the blindside and then saw the size of the tackle waiting for him so sensibly went to ground with good protection from Lucas and Mr T. Darion went Rhino and made good yardage close to the line. The forwards kept it tight and kept pounding the line with Mr T, Carlo, Jake and Laurie all trying hard but Clifton were more than able to keep them out. Liam saw a gap and smashed through but more great tackle technique rolled him onto his back and denied him a try.

Stroud had a 5 metre scrum restart which they duly won and Mr T passed out to Dave who looked to have found a seam to attack but it was promptly closed with a pounding tackle. The ball kept going right looking for the overlap but Clifton defended valiantly and then won a ruck battle and a turnover and kicked to touch and breathe a sigh of relief. Stroud lost their lineout throw on halfway but Clifton were penalised so Will used the wind to perfection and kicked it to the 5 metre line. Laurie won the throw-in and the forwards drove for the line but were held up. Lofty now at #9 set the backs off left and Dave was denied close to the line. The ball was kept alive and Billy looked to have a chance but he was held up and Clifton won the maul and then scrum restart on their own 5. Stroud had been denied twice on the Clifton try line but their heads weren’t dropping.

Flash recovered the long kick and ran it back but held on too long and Clifton won a penalty that was kicked into the Stroud 22. The next few minutes the teams cancelled each other out with good attacks and equally stout defending. Clifton gruber kicked through a gap that was quickly closed by Will and he hacked it up the pitch to the Clifton 22. They recovered it well and quickly attacked left but the pass drifted forward as the wind and rain returned with vengeance. Stroud won the scrum and Darion went on a good run but Clifton were again powerful at the breakdown and stole a turnover. Another attacking run back was thwarted by more wind affected forward passing. Stroud won their scrum on halfway and with the backs split in both directions decided to go right. Dave managed to outrun his opposite number and turn it up the wing. A thumping tackle from the full back looked to have stopped the move but a great supporting line from Flash and a pop pass from Dave kept the move alive and Flash tip-toed up the right wing as the Clifton tacklers chased back and he dived for the line and scored a great try. The kick from wide looked impossible into the howling wind but that just gave Will a chance to show his kicking prowess. A hard low kick was unlucky to thump into the crossbar and not drop over. 5-5 the score and all to play for.

Flash took the kick-off and smashed into contact again. Nothing was fazing him. This downhill mountain biking had removed all fear from his play and it was a joy to watch. It was all for nothing as Stroud knocked on in the next phase. Clifton won their scrum and attacked back at Flash but he chopped the runner down and caused another knockon. Stroud won their scrum deep in their half and the backs showed great hands in trying conditions to get the ball out wide and then back to Dave to crash up the wing. The forwards took over and Carlo pounded up the middle. Back to the backs and Arthur looked to set Billy away but a crafty Clifton centre was alert to the threat and stole the ball and ran it back with interest. Stroud were stretched in defence but Dave managed to chase down the runner and force him into touch as another try looked the outcome. Laurie was again the lineout winner and the backs attacked left with more sweet hands. Jedd was ready at the next ruck and went into Llama mode. Bernie went Rhino, Perys went Penguin, and we all retired to Bristol Zoo for a half time Cocoa.

Unfortunately we lost attention to detail to early and there was still enough time in the half for Stroud to miss a kick to touch, Clifton to run it back from deep to the left flank and hack the ball 80+ metres into the worlds biggest dead ball area (larger than the car park) and dive on it for a great try showing individual brilliance and incredible pace, fitness and durability. The conversion from wide was missed but Clifton were back in front.

Half Time: Clifton 10 – 5 Stroud

Coach Mk II took over the Churchill duties from the absent Mk I and roused the troops with a stirring speech. With a raft of subs to use and the wind to assist us the 2nd half would be a real humdinger.

Clifton kicked deep and the Stroud players got in each others way and caused a knock-on. Clifton had a scrum on the Stroud 22 and attacked right. Good defending from Orgy and Jedd forced a ruck and Clifton knocked on as they tried to threaten the Stroud 22. Stroud won the scrum restart and the backs quickly went right with Dave again speeding up the wing but more good cover tackling forced into touch at the Stroud 10. Clifton knocked on their short lineout and Stroud again won the scrum restart. The backs went left and Billy was released up the wing but more disciplined defence forced him into touch.

The wind was really having an impact on the game with the lineout becoming a real battle of knock-ons as the teams traded possession for a few minutes and again neutralised each other in all areas of the pitch. Clifton were struggling to get out of their half and as they got more adventurous with their passing the errors started to creep in. Stroud had a scrum restart on halfway and Lofty bravely sniped down the side – straight into the Clifton #8 who one handily won the ruck and a penalty. Clifton went for a quick tap but knocked on so Stroud escaped with another scrum. Orgy again won the hook battle and the Stroud backs set off again on an attack but the brutal wind kept the pass low and Clifton hacked it on into the Stroud 22 and into touch.

Laurie again was the lineout general winning the ball and directing the troops in a powerful drive. Clifton showed great nous to disrupt the drive and force Stroud into touch. Even better was the Stroud response when Clifton won their lineout and drove back and a group tackle of 6 forwards forced the Clifton forward into the field next door. Mr Reliable – aka Laurie - won the next lineout from a Liam laser. The backs attacked left and Dave was again the tormentor to the Clifton defenders. They eventually forced him into touch and a bad landing caused him to go off injured. As we checked Delia’s plane arrival time we realised it was too late and we didn’t trust Bill to administer first aid with his soldering iron so we gave Dave the rest of the day off and James stepped into the chaos and another reorganisation of the backs followed.

Clifton again showed great movement and invention in their lineout and won the ball but another crushing Keyan/Arthur tackle forced a knock-on. Stroud returned the favour and knocked on their next attack as the defenders and punishing tackling started to dominate the game.

Clifton kicked deep and Alex did well to recover it under Clifton pressure. Mr T took on the attack and then Perys. A high tackle was penalised so Stroud kicked for the corner with another Will perfectly judged kick. The wind though took the ball straight to the Clifton jumper. Clifton bravely attacked from deep under their posts but another knock-on stopped them before they got upto speed. Stroud were in a great position with a scrum on the Clifton 5 metre line. Another great shove from Carlo, Bernie and Liam secured good ball for Stroud. Lofty looked up and saw a gap and sniped down the side and dived for the try line and the equalising points. With all the pressure in the world Will calmly slotted the conversion kick and Stroud had their first lead at 12-10.

Clifton kicked deep and Will was there with the catch and then return kick. Clifton attacked from distance and their big runner picked up a head of steam – until he reached Lofty who bravely felled the runner – like the farmer next door who was chopping down Xmas trees for fun and selling them to the Bristolians! Stroud were under pressure as Clifton looked to make the most of their visit into the Stroud half. Flankers Jake and Perys stole a turnover and looked to release the pressure but another big Clifton tackle caused a knock-on. Clifton won their scrum and attacked back but Carlo forced the ball loose. It came out to Laurie and Keyan who took it in turns to make good runs upto halfway. Stroud went into Rhino mode again but more Clifton nous created a maul and earnt a scrum.

The scrum was duly won and the teams again traded attacking and defending moves, scrums and lineouts. In the final phase of the game Clifton attacked right and again more good Stroud team tackling and breakdown work earnt Stroud a penalty and the ref blew for full-time.

Full Time: Clifton 10 – 12 Stroud

The players shook hands and retired to the clubhouse for Clifton’s trademark cheesy pasta bake. Nearly as cheesy as the match report.

Stroud had showed great resolve to weather the Clifton storm in the first half and give as good in attack and defence as their opponents – aka Bristol Bears Academy! The 2nd half was well controlled by Stroud and they kept their heads and controlled the ball with forwards and backs in equal measure to always keep Clifton on their toes. Stroud’s lineout had been immense all game. Impressive in all phases. Accurate throws from Liam and Orgy. Great lifting from all the forwards, and great catching under pressure by Jake and Laurie. It had formed the secure platform from where the backs could work their magic and nick the 2 glory tries, but without the all round performance from the Stroud forwards the backs would have lived off scraps.

We look forward to a re-match with Clifton end of the season back at Fromehall and it should be another great evenly matched game.

Special thanks to Callum for running the line. Did an admirable job. Coach Mk II has lost that job for the rest of season.