Stratford pay the price for lack of discipline
STRATFORD’S lack of discipline proved costly as they slipped to a 24-11 defeat at Wimborne on Saturday.
The Black and Whites, missing six first-team players for the 300-mile round trip, received three yellow cards in the first half, almost in sequence, leaving them a man short for 30 minutes of the game.
In this time, the home side racked up a sizeable lead of 24-6, leaving Stratford with a huge task ahead of them in the second half.
Stratford took control after the break and their play was eventually rewarded with a try. Scrum-half Matt Allen’s grubber kick was gathered by Charlie Powell, who scored in the corner.
Tom Rance’s side failed to make any further headway though and Wimborne held on to secure a vital victory in their efforts to avoid relegation.
“The game boiled down to a couple of things,” said Stratford skipper, Jo Cook.
“Our discipline wasn’t very good, so we played much of the first half with 14 players. We were our own worst enemy.
“On the positive side, the cards all came in the first half, which is when they scored all of their points.
“In the second half, we managed to hold them out and not concede, while also scoring a try ourselves.”
Stratford are without a game this weekend and return to South West 1 East action on 7th April when they welcome local rivals Banbury to Pearcecroft.