Sat 1 Mar 2025
This week Stratford welcomed local rivals Shipston to Pearcecroft in front of what was sure to be the largest crowd of the league season. Following a last-minute fitness test for Stratford’s fly half Gwilym Davis, coming in himself to cover a late injury withdrawal, the news was positive, he would play.
Shipston got the game under way, and stifled Stratford’s attempts to exit their half with some tough tackling which, added to a poor clearance kick from Stratford, presented Shipston with the possession and a lineout just outside the Stratford 22. However, Stratford showed they had just as good a defence and after five phases turned the ball over to allow a clean exit. Little mistakes caused possession to switch between the two teams in the next five minutes, but with most of the play continuing in the Stratford half.
Shipston were the first to score however, having had another lineout just outside the Stratford 22 after they managed to create space to get on the outside of Stratford’s 11 George Fox before eventually being brought down inside the Stratford half. The penalty was kicked to touch to set up a lineout and a clean take started a backs move which saw Stratford outnumbered once again. Shipston’s 14 followed the play around the back to create the extra man and score in the other corner. With the conversion, they led 0-7.
Stratford were next to go on the attack, putting pressure on the Shipston runners and not giving any ground, a dominant tackle by hooker Ben Cole buoyed the Stratford lads and home fans, and a good clearing kick into touch followed by an inaccurate Shipston lineout gave Stratford a scrum just outside the Shipston 22. Though Shipston turned it back over, they were unable to secure it properly and a combination of 15 Jo Cook, and 9 Jake Lowe won a penalty for Stratford 8 m into the Shipston half when the jackal was then penalised for holding on himself. Inside centre Dan Whitby stepped up and slotted the three points to make it 3-7.
The next 10 minutes passed with both teams making small mistakes that stopped their own attacks as well as smart turnovers from their opposites. After around 10 phases in the Stratford 22, when Shipston spread the ball to the right, a handling mistake saw the ball fall into the arms of Stratford full-back Cook 5 m from his own try line. In what is expected to be his final season, he might be forgiven for not envisaging going the length of the pitch!
Following this, and with the advantage, 12 Whitby stepped inside a Shipston forward after a dummy, noticing the mismatch, and made it all the way from the Stratford 10 to the Shipston 22 before popping it to his left finding supporting flanker Jamie Jones. Jones, brought down half a metre from the try line, was able to place the ball well and Stratford had an advantage from a desperate Shipston recovery defence trying to prevent a score. Stratford played two phases to the left corner and set up captain Tom Stanley on a short cutting line to bruise his way over the line back inside the ruck, particularly pleasing considering he missed the first game due to illness. Whitby added the extras to make it 10-7.
Despite only being five minutes left of the first half; it was time enough for both teams to score. It was Stratford first, a clearing kick by Shipston was gathered by Cook on his own 10 m line who popped it to Ollie Pearson, took it back again on the loop, and then put the ball in the hands of speedster Charlie Powell. A show [dummy kick] and go got Powell instantly on the outside of his opposite man and he sped down the 5 m line past the flailing attempts of defender and curved his run in towards the post, giving his centre partner a simpler conversion. It was now 17-14 thanks to Whitby’s conversion.
Unfortunately for Stratford, as alluded to just now, Shipston got straight back in it after a mess up from the restart allowed Shipston an attacking scrum just outside the Stratford 22. They ran another backs move similar to their first try, involving the same winger looping round and taking a short pop to expose space enough to make his way in under the posts. Whether you consider this Stratford switching off, or a well-planned move by a Shipston, it ensured scores were close going into half-time 17-14.
Stratford survived a scare as the second half began, with the ball bouncing awkwardly and setting Shipston away, eventually forced out of touch on Stratford’s 5 m line. Seeing this attack off, Stratford got going themselves after hooker Cole made the most of no covering defenders at the ruck and picked and went. Unfortunately, Stratford’s attack was ended on the Shipston 22 when two of their defenders clashed heads making the tackle, causing the referee to stop play. Following a long break in play and after some more Stratford attack and two attacking scrums, the referee insisted that one of the Shipston defenders must leave the field due to his injury. This was particularly bad for Shipston as Stratford had already gained the ascendancy in the scrums.
Despite a period of attacking pressure from Stratford, with the extra bulk of replacement lock Zak Amond causing problems for Shipston, they managed to turn the ball over and the referee sent Sam James to the sin bin for a late hit on the 10 while Shipston were trying to exit. Shipston went on the attack at this point, making the most of it, on two occasions being brought down close to the Stratford try line but otherwise having to settle for three points. This brought the game back to 17- 17 and was followed by the reintroduction of James. At the same time Jonny Smith was withdrawn for the returning Jones, and Zak Hamersley also made his way onto the pitch.
The second half continued with the intensity and nerves rising, with the scores tied any mistakes could be crucial and devastating in equal measure. Stratford pushed their luck, giving away multiple penalties but were fortunate that each attempt to take the three points by Shipston were missed. Stratford did look down and out however following the dropout 22 after the second missed penalty. Taken around the halfway, Shipston carried the ball to near the Stratford 22 and one phase later their 12 spotted a mismatch and cut through the Stratford the line, going all the way in and to the right of the posts. With the conversion Shipston were 17-24 ahead and there were only minutes remaining.
The next order of events are generally only things of dreams, with the pressure on not to lose Stratford got to work. Glossing over a knock-on which gave Shipston a scrum put in just inside the Stratford half, Stratford asserted their dominance and following to reset scrums, drove Shipston straight back off the ball winning a penalty. This was kicked to touch by Davis for a lineout on the Shipston 22 and the attack was set in motion.
After the lineout drive couldn’t get moving, Stanley peeled off to the left making another couple of metres before the ball was popped right again and a ruck penalty saw Davis kick to touch in the corner. Shipston, after giving another penalty away, was warned by the referee and on this occasion, Stratford opted for the scrum. No 8 Wightman took the ball and charged to the right, before another phase from Cole had the ball 1 m to the left of the uprights and just short of the try line. Sensing an opportunity, fly half Davis took a few extra steps to the right and took the ball to the line where with a final effort, stretched his arm to place the ball and score. Though a relatively simple kick, Whitby withstood the pressure and tied the scores 24 all with the kick the last action of the game.
With this final try, Gwilym Davis cemented his place as the Stratford Man of the Match, stepping up to play, though not fully recovered from his wrist injury, showing his dedication to the cause and desire to help his team out in their hour of need. Though in truth, he’s never far short of the sort of performance whenever he’s on the pitch.
Stratford: 1. Goeff Dyson* 2. Ben Cole* 3. Tom Stanley* 4. James Walton 5. Sam James* 6. Jamie Jones* 7. John Smith* 8. Angus Wightman 9. Jake Lowe 10. Gwilym Davies* 11. George Fox* 12. Dan Whitby 13. Charlie Powell* 14. Ollie Pearson* 15. Jo Cook* Subs: 16. Zak Amond. 17. Zak Hamersley 18. Richard Pepperell
*Denotes a product of Stratford minis and juniors
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