Tough start to the year for youthful Stratford side

Stratford 15, Moseley Oak 38

TO KICK off the New Year Stratford welcomed Moseley Oak to Pearcecroft. With the guests sitting near the top of the table it was sure to be a tough test and with notable player absences, the Stratford squad included five teenagers and two 20-year-olds.

The visitors opened the scoring on ten minutes following a break in midfield off the top of a lineout and dotted down in the corner.

Stratford replied with a penalty from Dan Whitby but then conceded another three tries by half-time which coincided with the loss of fly-half Gwil Davis who succumbed to a broken thumb.

The tries were well worked but weren’t really a reflection of how Stratford were playing as a whole with tackles being missed at crucial moments and Moseley’s physicality in certain positions proving too much.

The hosts did finish the half on a high though when good work from a number of players, including Charlie Powell who was making his first start since injuring his leg against the same opponents back in October. Whitby kicked a penalty to the five-metre line. Ben Cole’s throw was spot-on and after the pack had driven over the line, the hooker claimed his side’s first try to make it 26-8 at the break.

The visitors bagged another try five minutes into the second period when a forward spotted a gap following an attacking scrum, the conversion making it 33-8.

At this point Ollie Pearson and Aidan Blann were introduced by the home side, the latter making his first team debut, and the pair helped shore up Stratford’s rucks and brought extra energy to what was a tiring defence.

Unfortunately, the visitors added another converted try midway through the half after stealing the ball inside the Stratford 22, but from this point Stratford enjoyed more possession with plenty of dynamic carries from Pearson giving the Stratford fans a glimpse of what could be a promising future.

Then prop Michael Dawes took the ball on Stratford’s 10m line and stepped his man making it all the way to the opposition 22 before being brought down. A cynical offside at the ensuing ruck probably called for a yellow card but the referee chose to keep it in his pocket.

Finally, there was a move that highlighted Stratford’s potential to adapt and make the most of an open field. Fox collected the ball in his own 22 and a fortunate bounce from his kick allowed winger Jacob Kinnaird to collect. He stepped inside his man with ease before drawing the final defender and setting Andy Oliver away down the right who ran the 40m to the try line. Whitby added the extra two points just ahead of the final whistle.

All other games on Saturday were postponed.