Sat 9 Mar 2024
Match Report: Ludlow 1st XV 24-19 Stratford-upon-Avon 1st XV
Venue: The Linney, Sat 9th March 2024
At the fourth time of asking, Stratford actually made the journey to Ludlow this weekend, on what appeared to be a pretty decent pitch considering the troubles they’d had with flooding and frost on the previous occasions.
Stratford started well and were able to apply pressure when Jake Lowe caught the Ludlow nine unaware and won Stratford possession back from a Ludlow scrum, the kick deep was returned to touch and Stratford built from there. Now having a penalty centre field they advanced into the Ludlow 22 with a lineout to come. The ball was taken cleanly and after a 5 m drive, pulling in the Ludlow defenders, Stratford made the extra man count and Charlie Powell scored on the left side. 0-5 after the conversion attempt.
Defending deep in their 22 after the restart, Stratford gave away a couple of penalties allowing Ludlow within a few metres of their line, at two further penalties Ludlow opted for the scrum but each time were unable to break through with their backs. The phase ended when Stratford won the ball and forced Ludlow back, who were then able to only make the halfway with a clearing kick.
Stratford’s second try came after Nathan Geekie cleared from the Stratford half, and with the unusual bounce of the rugby ball catching out the Ludlow full back, Tom Houlahan couldn’t quite gather it, but his attempt fell into the grateful hands of Zak Amond, and a couple of passes later Jack Young went in to make it 0-12, centre Gwil Davies on target this time.
After five minutes of back-and-forth Ludlow were the next to score, this time choosing a quick tap from the penalty in front of the posts, they drew in the Stratford forwards and eventually were able to spread it wide left to score in the corner and make it 5-12.
Before the end of the half, Ludlow won the kicking battle for territory and after a penalty allowed them to have a lineout 10 m from Stratford’s right-hand corner, they worked the ball both ways managing to score in the corner where they had started the move, 10-12.
Stratford rallied and made progress all the way down to just in front of Ludlow’s posts, started by accurate passing putting Gus Wightman through, but unfortunately Stratford couldn’t make the advantage tell and the referee eventually awarded Ludlow a penalty for holding on, making the score 10-12 at half time.
Stratford took possession of the restart and gained a scrum just inside Ludlow’s half after a clearing kick was knocked forward. Ludlow regained the ball via a turnover at the ruck for holding on. Some suspect tackling and a further penalty ended up in a Ludlow try just right of the post following a lineout 5 m from Stratford line. A successful conversion made it 17-12.
Being reintroduced following injury Dan Whitby was almost put through the middle around the Ludlow 22, but Stratford’s attack was short lived. Ludlow meanwhile were back in the Stratford 5m area after a tackle from an offside position gave them a penalty. From the resulting lineout Gus Wightman was sent to the sin bin for collapsing the maul.
Ludlow, returning to an old tactic, opted for the scrum, and then spread the ball left trying to make the most of the extra man. They managed to force their way over adjacent to the right upright but failed to ground the ball, resulting in a Stratford drop out from between the posts. Unfortunately, they were straight back there a few moments later having gathered and spread the ball right, they made the most of the extra man, with the conversion they were now leading 24-12 with only a few minutes of the sin bin elapsed.
Stratford battled on, slowly reducing the penalty count, and appeasing the referee, they earned themselves possession in the Ludlow half. The penalty just outside the 22, taken quickly, got them close to the post before quick ruck speed and a direct flat pass from Nathan Geekie found Charlie Powell cutting an angle to score his second of the game, and 16th of the season! The conversion was successful, and Stratford were back in the game, 24-19.
Starting from their own 22, after the restart, Stratford spread the ball left and Dan Whitby broke a few tackles to allow Jacob Kinnaird to sprint down the sideline only being stopped a few metres from the try line. Frustratingly, Stratford were then penalised at the ruck for going off their feet, Ludlow had survived.
Now back to 15, Stratford were looking strong, making the most of quick play, and applied the pressure once more. A penalty allowed Ludlow to clear from just outside their 22 and it appeared that Stratford had missed their chance. Each team had a few more promising attacks as the game went on, but neither were able to add to the score board.
A disappointing day out for Stratford but a promising performance nonetheless will give them good reason to be confident next week at home to Hereford. As you can see below, with 16 tries, Charlie Powell is the league’s top scorer.
A second team with a wonderful mix senior, veteran and colts players ran out 7-57 winners over Coventry Welsh in their bid to claim the Warwickshire 2 title. Next week sees a top of the table clash against Daventry 3’s which will go a long way to deciding who will be celebrating at the end of the season.
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