Sat 7 Dec 2024
With Storm Darragh battering the UK, and making Hereford’s pitches unplayable, Stratford welcomed Hereford to Pearcecroft knowing it may not be the prettiest rugby on display. Hereford got the game under way and, after a couple of knock-ons each way, went on the attack having got possession back following a deep clearing kick from Stratford 10 Gwilym Davis.
After the Hereford attacks fizzled out, Stratford were marched back deep into their 22 as an advantage the referee was playing allowed Hereford to kick for the corner and profit from an attacking lineout. This was followed by a scrum and then a further two pods of forwards attacking the Stratford try line before Hereford passed the ball out the back, where their winger was able to cut inside two stretched defenders, and score to the left of the posts. With constant gusty winds, the conversion flew wide of the posts, and Hereford led 0-5 after just five minutes.
For the next 5-10 minutes Stratford were on the attack, with phase after phase pushing Hereford back into their own 22 with help from a couple of defensive penalties. Having found themselves metres from the try line, a tap penalty was taken and more phases ensued with the forwards working hard to make yards and the ball available for the next phase. A knock-on brought the end of this and allowed Hereford an easy out, but Stratford went straight back at it.
Having pinned Hereford back in their own 22 Stratford’s tough defence forced a knock-on and gained them a scrum on the 5 m line. Applying the pressure, they got the drive going and as they approached the try line, it started to twist allowing no 8 Jack Young to dribble the ball over the line and touch it down despite the Hereford 14 attempts to pinch it. What would normally be a somewhat difficult conversion was made harder by the weather and saw Centre Dan Whitby’s attempt blow to the left of the posts leaving the score at 5-5.
Following a yellow card for a Hereford lock Stratford, who were dominating possession at this point, started an attack from a scrum on the Hereford 10m line. A backs move from this allowed Whitby to drive through the centre of the pitch making it well into the 22 before being stopped as defenders slipped off. Fast ruck speed and two more phases to the right saw a ruck inches from the line. Quick thinking scrum-half Jake Lowe took the ball and pounced, driving over the line to the right of the ruck for another score. The conversion for this try was better judged and swung through the posts making the score 12-5, with roughly half an hour gone.
Stratford went further ahead just before half-time after constant pressure on the Hereford line, having soaked up any attacks from them, which appeared few and far between. Restored to 15 men, and well organised, the Hereford defence were still continually pushed backwards, and 10 minutes of hard graft saw eventual Man of the Match, Michael Dawes smashed over the line. Sensing an opportunity he took a few steps away from the ruck to create the space needed to get through after taking the short pop pass. The half-time whistle went after the attempted conversion sailed wide and the score was 17-5.
The second half saw many attacks stunted, with the referee deciding that the majority of attempts to hold up the ball were high tackles, added to actual high tackles, knock-ons, forward passes, and defensive turnovers. A procession of scrums and lineouts gave both teams opportunities, but despite Hereford trying to get back in the game and Stratford pushing for that fourth try to stretch their lead over Hereford in the match and the league table, neither were able to score.
The fresh legs of subs managed to keep the competitive game going following a Hereford penalty attempt from the Stratford 10m line, possibly being opted for to give the defenders a break. With the floodlights wobbling in the high winds, you might forgive the teams for not scoring more points on the day and Stratford will definitely feel they should have scored many more tries.
Stratford: 1. Michael Dawes, 2. Ben Cole, 3. Tom Stanley (C), 4. Will Dobbin, 5. Angus Wightman, 6. Sam James, 7. Jamie Jones, 8. Jack Young, 9. Jake Lowe, 10. Gwilym Davis, 11. Jo Cook, 12. Dan Whitby (VC), 13. Tom Houlahan, 14. Andy Oliver, 15. Nathan Geekie. Subs: 16. Zak Amond, 17. Zak Hamersley, 18. Ethan Cook.
Stratford’s Colts were also in action at Pearcecroft but unfortunately let a half-time lead slip through their fingers eventually going down 17-34 to opponents Old Leamingtonians.
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