Many Positives Despite Narrow Loss

Nomads looked to start the second half of the season in a positive fashion on a cold but dry afternoon at Fromehall. Despite a number of late call ups to the 1st XV, Nomads were able to field a competitive squad with the unusual luxury of nearly all players playing in recognised positions.
1 Lee Marshall 2 James Nash 3 Damien Cox 4 Nick Stringer 5 Adam Clark 6 Mark Samak 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Fred Mclellan 9 Callum Gibbs 10 Luke Peer 11 Tom Munce 12 Jamie Leworthy 13 Tom Taylor 14 Oscar Adamason 15 Ben Dodd 16 Craig Hill 17 Alex Powell 18 Ben Wilkes
Newent as always were hugely competitive opposition and in return for their generosity in lending us players in the reverse fixture Alex Powell and Tom Munce played a half each on the wing for Newent to enable them to field 15 players.
Once again, a shortage of front row forwards meant the game would be played with uncontested scrummages however this certainly led to a quick, expansive 80 minutes.
Nomads kicked off and Newent were able to maintain possession throughout the phases. Nomads initial defence was solid close to the breakdown with Flanagan as ever chopping down much bigger opponents. He was ably supported by Samak and Mclellan in stopping Newent’s forward runners. When the ball was spread wider, Peer, Leworthy and Taylor were secure in their midfield defence. Newent to their credit regularly changed the direction of their attack and one change of direction enabled an overlap to be created and good hand enabled their full back a clear run in. 0-5.
Newent again controlled the possession and looked to spread the ball wider. An excellent tackle from Dodd and steal from Adamson earned Nomads a penalty and allowed Peer to clear the lines. A line out take from Clark from Marshall’s throw enabled Nomads their first real spell of possession. Leworthy typically carried strongly up the middle and set the target for Gibbs to move the ball on to Samak, who made further ground. More good recycling allowed Gibbs to release Flanagan, who beat two men before offloading to a supporting Leworthy to run in from the 22. 5-5.
The score seemed to lift Nomads, who made great ground from Clark’s take at the kick off. Gibbs fed Taylor, who found Samak on an inside line. Driving play up towards halfway, the ball was recycled for Peer to kick and find touch back at the Newent 22. Although Newent initially secured their ball and began to spread the ball wider solid defence from Taylor and Munce forced a mis-placed pass that Leworthy gratefully scooped up and ran in to score his second. Peer converted. 12-5.
Nomads short range pick and go phases were working well with Marshall, Cox, and Stringer all carrying and recycling well. Mclellan was also carrying strongly from the base of a scrum and one carry gave Gibbs quick ball to feed to backs. Good hands from Peer and Leworthy found Dodd coming into the line at pace. Scrambling defence from Newent was enough to bring Dodd down but just as it looked as though Nomads would again retain the ball an untimely knock on at the breakdown awarded a scrum to Newent. Nomads were made to pay with great work from their scrum-half despite pressure from Gibbs freeing their centre on the blind side. Making the most of a 2 on 1 their centre showed the ball before showing excellent pace to race in. Try converted. 12-12.
Nomads continued their pick and drive game before looking to spread the ball wider. An unfortunate knock on allowed Newent to regain possession and drive back at the Nomads. Again Nomads initial defence was solid with Stringer and Flanagan making notable tackles. Newent continued to press and eventually were able to drive over from close range, despite brave efforts from Marshall and Nash, to take the lead again. 12-17.
As half –time approached, Newent looked to spread the ball wide immediately from the kick-off. Great work from Leworthy and Taylor on halfway forced the ball to be spilled and Adamson, as alert as ever, pounced on the ball in an instant before showing great acceleration to out-strip the covering defence up the touchline. 17-17.
Half Time ​Stroud Nomads​ 17​Newent 2nd XV 17
Powell returned to Nomads colours swapping with Munce, whilst Hill replaced Clark. Nomads were instantly on the attack with Marshall securing the kick-off allowing Gibbs to feed Samak to drive up the middle. Great support from Flanagan enabled quick ball for Gibbs to release the backs, where Peer and Taylor combined to free Powell on the left wing. Making excellent ground, he found Peer back on the inside. He seemed destined to score but was brought down by a high tackle. Opting for a scrummage and guaranteed possession, Peer found Leworthy to drive up the middle. Dodd and Adamson then combined well on the right before Cox and Hill picked from the base allowing Gibbs to feed Peer, who found Leworthy cutting an excellent line to surge through two tacklers to score under the posts. Peer converted. 24-17.
Nomads were on the front foot now and another Marshall take from the kick-off appeared to have set the platform for more Nomads possession. A great tackle however forced a turnover and Newent were straight back at the Nomads. Strong running from their back row was repelled with Flanagan again making more than his share of tackles. Pressure from the Nomads forced a pass which went to ground and was scavenged by Samak – allowing Nomads to get back to controlling possession. Mclellan again made good ground before Marshall, Stringer and Flanagan took the ball on. Gibbs spread the play to Peer, who with a show and go, broke the line before finding Samak on his outside. Again scrambling defence brought him down only metres out however Peer was there to scoop the ball up and drive over. He converted his own try to extend the lead. 31-17.
Nomads appeared to be in control of the game with 20 minutes to go but an untimely knock on in the middle of the pitch awarded Newent the scrum and renewed momentum. An excellent surge from their Number 8 took play into the Nomads half before the ball was spread wide left through numerous pairs of hands for a score in the corner. 31-22. Wilkes replaced Adamson.
The Newent Number 8 was becoming an increasing influence on the game and another burst was only stopped by an excellent tackle from Powell, forcing him into touch. Although Nomads won the subsequent line-out they were penalised and Newent looked to take the game on with a tap penalty. Again initial tackling was solid so the Newent 10 opted for a change in tactics with a high cross field kick. This however was excellently taken by Wilkes on his debut.
Newent continued to dominate possession but with Nomads defence generally solid and great effort in scrambling back it held firm until a clever kick over the top from the Newent scrum- half found space and allowed the winger to kick on ahead and touch down to narrow the gap further. 31-27.
With 5 minutes to go gaps were starting to appear in the Nomads defence and the forward drives of Newent were making much greater yardage than at any point in the game. Another powerful surge from their Number 8 was stopped by Flanagan and Samak but quick ball put Newent on the front foot. More committed work in defence from Peer, Taylor and Wilkes again looked to have thwarted the attack but Nomads were penalised at the breakdown. Spotting a gap, the Newent scrum half took a quick tap penalty and sped over to reclaim the lead. 31-32.
Battling to the end, Nomads pressured the kick off and good work from Nash and Stringer regained the ball for Nomads to have one last attack. Leworthy surged on before Dodd jinked past a number of defenders. Pushing play towards the Newent 22, Nomads were penalised at the breakdown allowing Newent to clear and end a pulsating game in which the lead had changed hands five times.
Full Time ​Stroud Nomads​ 31​Newent 2nd XV 32
Despite the loss, many positives should be taken from this performance and some of the controlled play through many phases was the best the Nomads had produced all season. Fitness and a few holes in the defence took their toll in the final 10 minutes but this should not overshadow the excellent commitment shown by all players in a performance that should set the standard for the rest of the season.
Man of the Match: Jamie Leworthy – strong running, solid tackling and a hat-trick on his return to rugby.
Special mention: Tom Flanagan for an incredible amount of tackling and an engine that allows him to just keep running and running.
Next League Fixture: Saturday 19th January (Away) v Cheltenham.