Stratford are starting to turn a corner, says director of rugby Richard Pepperell
DIRECTOR of rugby Richard Pepperell believes Stratford are “starting to turn the corner” as their gritty display at Wolverhampton on Saturday earned a first win on the road this season.
Tries from Dan Whitby and Charlie Powell, as well as a brace of conversions and successful penalty from Gwilym Davis, helped the Black and Whites to back-to-back victories.
After a difficult start to the season, the Pearcecroft side have returned from the enforced break in good form and the success over Wolverhampton, which backed up the impressive home win over Whitchurch, has lifted them up to sixth in the table.
“We had to grind it out in the end because we did not see much of the ball in the second half but we did not give Wolverhampton many opportunities,” Pepperell told the Herald.
“We scored two tries in the first half and it was a little bit disappointing that we did not kick on from that but I understand that the players were thinking the win was more important.
Pepperell added: “I do believe we are starting to turn the corner.
“Our 2nd XV had more than 20 players at the weekend so we’ve got competition for places, whereas before we were scrounging around and it was a case of making do.
“There were some concerns over availability in the summer and we didn’t have a great start to the season, but there’s been a lot of hard work behind the scenes and hopefully we’re on an upward curve.”
Stratford’s next three games are against teams below them and Pepperell says the team will be using this run of fixtures as a chance to add to their points tally.
The Black and Whites host ninth-placed Crewe & Nantwich on Saturday (3pm kick-off) and then they visit basement boys Droitwich on 5th November. A home game against second-bottom Evesham follows on 12th November.
Also happening this Saturday is a memorial game for much-loved player Paul Withers who died on 18th July. Stratford Legends will be taking on Old Leamingtonians Veterans at Pearcecroft and kick-off is at 1pm.
