Cheltenham 28 Stratford 22: Regional Two Midlands West match report as Stratford play 60 minutes one man short
Much-changed Stratford were unable to become the first team to win at Cheltenham in 11 months on Saturday after playing much of the Regional Two Midlands West contest one man short.
From Stratford almost scoring at one end, Cheltenham’s winger made an interception on what would have been the penultimate pass before a likely try to score in the far corner, and ran down the other end to score. The conversion gave the hosts a 7-0 lead.
What appeared a sure try for Stratford captain Tom Stanley was considered held up by the referee, who then awarded a penalty to Cheltenham for backchat.
Stratford had to play 60 minutes one man down after Sam James was sent off for a punch noticed by the referee.
Following this, Stratford sucked up the pressure put on them by Cheltenham and aside from scrums, you may not have realised that they were a man down. However, having stretched Stratford left and right Cheltenham were able to score and the conversion made it 14-0 at half-time.
Numbers were evened up when the Cheltenham winger was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Stratford prop Geoff Dyson.
Stratford took a quick tap and Tom Stanley almost went over between the posts.
From this quick ruck, the ball was spread left and good hands put Nathan Geekie in to make it 14-5 after a wayward conversion attempt.
After stopping a Cheltenham attack by forcing a knock-on, the hosts were able to score down the blindside from another Stratford scrum and extend their lead to 21-5.
Stratford built phase after phase to push into the Cheltenham 22 with two deep forays by Stanley and replacement Michael Dawes. Continued pressure and tap penalties ended with Gwilym Davis scoring Stratford’s second try on the far left, and then making the conversion to leave them 21-12 behind.
An excellent clearing kick from a penalty near their own five-metre line saw Stratford take a lineout at the Cheltenham 22 and work the ball infield to earn a penalty. The three points were taken to make it 21-15.
However, Cheltenham responded with 10 minutes left to score a converted try and extend the gap to 13 points.
Winning a penalty from a Cheltenham scrum, Stanley charged towards the Cheltenham 22 once more, then Bobby Clark-Walker took the ball to the line and popped it up off the floor to Lewis Mellor who swerved around the Cheltenham 15 to score to the right of the posts. At 28-20, the conversion would earn Stratford a losing bonus point and player-of-the-match Davis duly delivered.
Stratford 1sts and 2nds host Ludlow at Pearecroft on Saturday in what should be a bumper day of rugby.
Stratford: 1. Geoff Dyson, 2. Seb Grace, 3. Tom Stanley (C), 4. Sam James, 5. Will Dobbin, 6. Zak Hamersley, 7. Jonny Smith (VC), 8. Jack Young, 9. Jake Lowe, 10. Bobby Clark-Walker, 11. Chris Bolton, 12. Gwilym Davies, 13. Lewis Mellor, 14. Tom Houlahan, 15. Nathan Geekie. Subs: 16. Michael Dawes, 17. Danny Earp, 18. George Fox.
