Sat 17 Jan 2026, 14:15
Stratford-upon-Avon 29-14 Ludlow
On a cold but bright January afternoon Ludlow got proceedings underway but due to a concussion injury at the second ruck the continuation of the game was delayed an hour whilst due caution was taken with the player who had put their head on the wrong side of a tackle. Once in the good hands of the Ambulance Service and on their way to hospital, the game got back underway. We have since heard that the player has been discharged and is recovering well.
Stratford had the best of the opening 10 minutes generally dominating the possession thanks to multiple line breaks and they had forced Ludlow to take a drop out from their try line on two occasions. With the scrum functioning relatively well despite two of the first-choice front row missing through injury, Stratford kept the pressure on with impactful carries from the forwards.
A partial break through the middle and a pop pass to get into the red zone saw Stratford near the line. Sensing an opportunity left-wing Charles Squires, on his debut, moved up flat close to the sideline and was spotted by fly half Nathan Geekie who executed a long pass over the top to find Squires who scored in the corner-high risk but high reward! Kicker Dan Whitby missed the extras from out wide, but Stratford led 5-0.
After the restart Ludlow did have a good spell of attacking ball but were ultimately rebuffed by the efficient Stratford defence, forcing Ludlow to take a shot at the post when a penalty was awarded centre-field, this sailed just to the left of the posts. They continued to attack but Stratford held resolute, even turning over a Ludlow scrum on their own 5 m line. Stratford were able to clear thanks to a turnover by lock Zak Amond just inside their 22.
Having got into the Ludlow 22 thanks to a break down the right-hand side by returning outside centre Charlie Powell, Stratford maintained quick ruck speed and worked their way across the pitch. Two more phases to the left and they were just shy of the try line before prop Tom Stanley ran a nice line cutting back in towards the ruck and emphatically broke free of his defenders to score the try. Whitby converted on this occasion and Stratford led 12-0.
Five minutes before half-time and Stratford were at it again, starting an attack from a scrum on the left just inside their own half, they created a breakthrough midfield when flyhalf Geekie passed it back on his inside to Squires who juggled the ball but held on and made it to the Ludlow 22 before being stopped.
From here, scrum-half Jake Lowe threw a dummy to his right and sneaked around the edge of the ruck eventually being stopped 3 m from the try line. As he went to ground, he popped it up to the onrushing Sam James who, although being brought down by scrambling defenders, was able to roll and place the ball between the sticks with his free arm. Whitby made it 19-0 and shortly after the half-time whistle blew.
Five minutes into the second half and benefiting from a Ludlow lineout not being straight Stratford were once again enjoying attacking ball. Carries infield by Geekie, Amond and stand-in prop James Walton got them just outside the Ludlow 22 once more before another snipe from Lowe found Powell who had followed him through the gaps. Powell stepped the defender next offender and then went round the outside of the final one to score 10 m to the right of the posts. Whitby’s conversion bent away from the left upright but the score now stood at 24-0.
Ludlow then began to build some pressure and made ground, finally keeping hold of the ball long enough to work their way into the Stratford 22. Multiple offences in the red zone, alongside some well-organised defence, saw captain Jonny Smith warned by the referee and eventually try scorer James sent to the bin for what was a ‘team’ yellow.
Despite being down a man, Stratford held up a try over the line and then we gained possession from the dropout before working the way up the pitch powered by quick feet and lock Amond who continually wanted his hands on the ball. Stratford were eventually turned over 4 m from Ludlow’s line but went back at it after Ludlow cleared to touch with flyhalf Geekie pinning them back in the corners with kicks to each side.
Knowing they were working hard a man down, Stratford DoR Richard Pepperell introduced all three substitutes with Ben Humphreys securing a vital turnover when Ludlow did launch one attack. Despite overthrowing the resulting lineout and allowing Ludlow to attack, Stratford were actually next to score. Ludlow kicked it deep into the Stratford 22 where winger Squires gathered it made the most of open field, stepping the first defender, weaving between many more and making it all the way to the Ludlow half.
With Squires offloading in the tackle to his opposite winger Armin Tofighi, Stratford had a ruck with the Ludlow defenders struggling to get back onside. One phase left and a past back out to the right saw full-back Andy Oliver stepp inside the Ludlow 12 and through the gap leaving the Ludlow prop next to him grasping at thin air. Oliver raced towards the try line arcing towards the corner to ensure the wasn’t stopped. The only downside of this was the more difficult conversion for Whitby, he saw his attempt go wide but Stratford now led 29-0.
Not long after Stratford were restored to 15 men, they conceded their first try as with the energy levels finally running out, they were unable to stop a tap and go from the Ludlow forwards following a scrum 5 m from the try line. Ludlow converted to make it 29-7 and continued to attack afterwards. It got worse for Stratford when substitute Dom Wan was penalised for hands in the ruck and sent to the sin bin for pretty much the remainder of the game.
Realising they were benefiting from keeping the ball in hand, Ludlow took a tap from the penalty and headed towards the Stratford 22. They continued to work through the phases moving right and left in the Stratford 22 and eventually scored to the left of the posts after drawing many Stratford defenders in and then taking a slightly wider line to find a gap. The Ludlow kicker converted to create a more positive scoreline of 29-14 to go on the days match card.
Stratford worked hard for their five tries and bonus point win, and suffered a bit at the end for it but it was a generally positive day with many bright performances; from Nathan Geekie moving into 10 to Charles Squires on his debut opening the scoring, not to mention James Walton playing most of the match at prop, Dom Leach stepping in at hooker at the speed and agility they gained from the returning Charlie Powell. However, Player of the Match on the day went to Zak Amond who seem to be more involved than usual, winning turnovers, carrying many metres on multiple occasions and generally proving to be a nuisance.
Stratford XV: 1. James Walton 2. Dom Leach 3. Tom Stanley* 4. Lawrence Birch* 5. Zak Amond* 6. Sam James* 7. Toby Mendes 8. Jonny Smith* (C) 9. Jake Lowe 10. Nathan Geekie* (VC) 11. Charles Squires* 12. Dan Whitby 13. Charlie Powell* 14. Armin Tofighi* 15. Andy Oliver Subs: 16. Dom Wan* 17. Sam Britain 18. Ben Humphreys
*Denotes product of Stratford minis and juniors
