Stroud Rugby
Matches
Sat 26 Jan 2019  ·  Gloucester & District 1
Stroud Rugby
Stroud Rugby
24
27
Old Cryptians 2
Nomads so close to victory.

Nomads so close to victory.

joshua stratton28 Jan 2019 - 13:42
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.stroudrugby.co.uk/

Although this was another narrow defeat for the Nomads, it was possibly one of their best performances of the season.

In a total change from last week, Nomads were able to field 18 players with new and returning faces bolstering the squad. Ashton Herbert and Peter Allen made their first appearances whilst Ryan Kibble, Cory Baker and Joe Ashenford all returned after prolonged periods out of the game.
A small pitch at Archway School on a wet and windy afternoon would not obviously bode well for an expansive game but both sides were committed to using the ball ensuring a good game to watch. Once again, scrummaging was uncontested due to the lack of Front Row from the opposition.
Squad: 1 Ashton Herbert 2 Lee Marshall 3 Craig Hill 4 Jack Keightley 5 Ryan Kibble 6 Cory Baker 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Fred McCllelan 9 Callum Gibbs 10 Peter Allan 11 Tom Munson 12 Jamie Leworthy 13 Tom Taylor 14 Ben Wilkes 15 Ben Dodd 16 James Nash 17 Mark Samak 18 Joe Ashenford.
Crypts kicked off with the benefit of a strengthening wind behind them. Despite an excellent take from Leworthy, Nomads struggled to make much ground against a well organised Crypts defence. Early carries from Herbert, Keightley and Baker recycled possession but Crypts soon forced a penalty inside the Stroud half. From a lineout 20m out, Crypts set up a catch and drive, which Nomads did well to repel thanks to the sizeable presence of both Herbert and McCllelan. Forced to use the ball, Crypts went wider but found Leworthy and Taylor secure in the centres. Crypts were camped in the Nomads 22 for much of the first 15 minutes but thanks to great work from Baker and Flanagan close in and Munson, Wilkes and Dodd out wide Nomads somehow kept their line intact. Even when appearing to be over the line, Keightley and Kibble managed to hold the player up, preventing a score. Eventually, the inevitable happened when the Crypts Fly-half fed a clever inside ball, which allowed one of their forwards to drive over. 0-5.
Nomads were starved of possession in the first quarter and on the few occasions Crypts turned the ball over, Nomads seemed unable to secure the ball and run through phases. On a number of occasions, forward runners were isolated and penalised. Crypts varied their attack between their forwards and their centre, who regularly crashed the ball up. Nomads commitment in defence couldn’t be questioned as the back row and inside three of Allen, Leworthy and Taylor showed excellent connection and discipline as well as great line speed. One defensive press forced the Crypts fly-half into a rushed pass, which was superbly picked off by Allen, who raced in from his own 10m line to score. 5-5.
Levelling the score against the run of play could have disrupted Crypts but once again the regained possession from mis-control at the breakdown from the Nomads. Nash replaced Herbert, who had received a heavy knock to the thigh. With the scrummage being uncontested, the line-out would be the site of the competitive set-piece and the strong wind caused problems for both sides. Crypts appeared to cope with it better, securing the majority of their ball, setting a platform for further attacks. Spreading the play left, Crypts made great ground only to be stopped by scrambling defense from Wilkes and Dodd. Keen to move the ball and use their young back line, the ball was moved back right, where despite great work from Flanagan and Munson – Crypts were able to recycle the ball and surge over. Try Converted 5-12.
Nomads had their first concerted period of possession in the last 10 minutes of the half with McCllelan carrying well from the base before Gibbs fed Keightley and then Marshall to carry play up to the Crypts 22 for the first time. Pick and goes from Hill and Kibble pushed play on before Gibbs fed Allen, whose pass gave Munson the chance to make ground up the wing. Nomads continued to attack but Crypts defense was solid and did well to hold up Leworthy as he took a typically direct line. Injury caused more disruption with Allen being forced from the field however this allowed Ashenford to make a welcome return to rugby at Fly-Half. McCllelan was the next to suffer injury, getting a heavy knock to the back during a carry from the base – Samak entered the fray, which ensured Nomads had used all 18 players within 35 minutes. Looking for another score before half time, Samak was immediately in the action with a pick and go from the scrum, which allowed Gibbs to feed Ashenford, who was able to find Taylor on a powerful line but Crypts defence was secure.
Half Time Stroud 2nd XV 5​Old Cryptians 2nd XV 12
Nomads began the second half in a positive vein, with an excellent kick chase from Marshall and Kibble pressurising the receiver. Although Crypts secured the ball and began to move it, a typically tenacious chop tackle from Flanagan allowed Baker and Samak to get over the ball and secure a turnover. With the line-out under pressure, Nomads opted for the scrum and guaranteed possession allowed Gibbs to feed Ashenford , who dummied to Leworthy on the short line before ghosting through a gap. Accelerating clear, he offloaded to Taylor, who surged into the 22 before being hauled down. With presence of mind, he laid the ball back for Ashenford to scoop up and dive over in the corner. 10-12.
With both sides keen to attack, the game took on a frenetic pace with first Nomads looking to continue the momentum with strong carries from Keightley, Baker and Samak. Wilkes also carried well despite having few opportunities as Crypts rush defence made it difficult for Nomads to get the ball wide. Nomads were not able to make the most of this possession as the line-out continued to be problematic and on a number of occasions possession was turned over.
Cryptians made the most of their time in control of the ball with strong runners sucking tacklers in before their fly-half found a runner cutting an excellent line against the grain to scythe through to score under the posts. Try Converted 10-19.
Nomads heads however did not drop and despite a further period of Crypts pressure, tremendous work at the breakdown from Flanagan forced a penalty which Gibbs kicked to touch. Allen returned to the field at Full Back in place of Wilkes with Dodd moving to the wing. Line-out ball for once was secured with a Kibble take and Ashenford was able to release Leworthy again. Baker and Samak continued the carries around the corner making ground into the 22. Hill and Keightley continued the momentum with pick and goes before Nomads were held up on the line. From the ensuing scrum, Gibbs fed Ashenford, Allen cut a line behind Leworthy and received a well-timed pass to surge over by the posts. Ashenford Converted. 17-19.
Right back in game, Nomads continued to press with an excellent take from Keightley setting the platform for Kibble, Baker then Samak to carry play into the Crypts half. Flanagan as ever was also elusive and made good ground but Nomads momentum was stopped by an unfortunate knock on at the base. Indiscipline began to affect the Nomads with players being penalised for infringements around the breakdown. This enabled Crypts to gain easy territory and they were soon back in Nomads 22. A strong run from their centre was well dealt with by Flanagan and Leworthy however further indiscipline at the breakdown awarded the opportunity for an easy 3 points that the Crypts kicker took easily. 17-22.
With only 5 minutes to go, Wilkes returned to the field in place of Munson. Ashenford kicked off deep into the Crypts 22, where indecision caused the ball to be knocked back over the dead ball line. From the scrum, Nomads attempted the same set move but Allen this time was held up just short. The ball was recycled back to the left with Ashenford finding Taylor running straight. Switching play Gibbs found Marshall, who with Kibble and Samak driving him on came close but was held upon the line. From the scrum, Samak picked and fed Gibbs to release Allen. Showing great hands a take and give pass allowed Dodd just enough time to squeeze in at the corner. Baker nailed a great touchline conversion and Nomads were leading for the first time. 24-22.
Crypts kicked off and just as it looked as though the ball was going straight into touch, athletic work from their winger tapped the ball back. Securing possession, Crypts had one last chance to attack. Again they opted for straight running but Ashenford showed he was relishing his return to rugby with a tremendous hit on a player far bigger than himself. The back row of Baker, Flanagan and Samak continued to tackle well but the club’s Achilles heel of “not pushing up on the blindside,” was exploited by Crypts, who showed good hands to free their winger to dive over in the corner. 24-27.
Full Time Stroud 2nd XV 24​Old Cryptians 2nd XV 27
Although this was another narrow defeat for the Nomads, it was possibly one of their best performances of the season. This game showed the importance of a large squad as despite injuries Nomads were able to compete with a side top of Gloucester District 1 for 80 minutes. With another 6 or 7 players hopefully available in the next few weeks, Nomads should look forward to their upcoming games with the idea that these performances should soon turn into victories.
Next Fixture: Saturday February 9th (Away) v Gloucester Old Boys KO 1430

Match details

Match date

Sat 26 Jan 2019

Kickoff

14:30

Competition

Gloucester & District 1

League position

1
Old Cryptians 2
8
Stroud 2
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - Stroud Brewery
Club Sponsor - Nortim Engineering Ltd
Sponsor - Cotswold Appliances (Oxford) Ltd
Club sponsors  - Howard Tenens Logistics Ltd
Clubs sports therapy - The Prime Practice
Club Sponsor - EPS
Club Sponsor - The Weighbridge Inn