MATCH REPORT: STROUD RUGBY V GORDON LEAGUE RFC

On Saturday the 1st XV headed up the A38 to Hempsted for a Counties 2 Gloucestershire North match against Gordon League RFC.

Gordon League won the toss and elected to play up hill in the first half. The home side came flying out of the blocks, claiming a try on the five minute mark, their fullback breaking through the defence after a series of scrums in the Stroud 22. Stroud looked to attack from the restart, but a dropped pass was pounced upon by The League, who took play back into the Stroud 22. A penalty was awarded and a kick to the corner gave the hosts a line out 5m from the Stroud line. No further invitation was needed and a second try was added courtesy of a well executed shift drive. 0-10.

Stroud kicked long and the ball was knocked on. A deluge of scrums followed, with the Stroud pack edging the early exchanges, winning a scrum against the head and forcing a couple of penalties from the home pack. However it was a line out that set the platform for the next score. Stroud looked to set a maul before shifting the ball out of the back to quickly move the ball wide to the wings. Full back Sam Hester broke a tackle and deftly offloaded to galloping winger Dean Tattersall who touched down in the corner for Stroud’s first points.

Gordon League gathered the kickoff and powerful forward carries moved play into the Stroud 22. Their number 10 chipped the defence and dived on the ball to take the score to 15-5. Back on the attack, Stroud employed a similar tactic, rewarded with a penalty try as the Gordon League defender batted the ball dead to prevent Harry Lightfoot from claiming a score.

HT 15-12.

Going down the hill second half, The League’s pack came into the game, with bullocking runs taking the attack deep into the Stroud half. Hard carries and slick passing leading to a well taken try. The driving maul was once again employed to great effect, adding a score from five meters out, followed by a third of the half to establish a commanding lead going into the final 20 minutes. Stroud struck back, the third try almost a carbon copy of the first, moving the ball wide quickly from a collapsed maul, linked up with Dean Tattersall on the charge to burst over the line for the score. Gordon League continued to press us hard, adding two more tries to take the lead to an emphatic 48-17 final score.

Thank you to The League for the game and for hosting us - we will learn a lot from the match and we look forward to the return fixture in the new year.