Sat 7 Mar 2026, 15:00
Stratford 22-12 Stow-on-the-Wold
This weekend Stratford welcomed Stow-on-the-Wold (Stow) to Pearcecroft, hoping to avenge the defeat to 0 in the reverse fixture last calendar year. The team lineup was shuffled once again due to further injuries and unavailability, with Stratford drafting in retired players Jo Cook and Jack Young to help plug the gaps, they were also able to welcome back fly-half Gwil Davis from his time down under.
Stratford got the fixture underway and enjoyed more of the opening possession working their way up the pitch to put the pressure on Stow early. Hard carries from the tight-five got Stratford on the front foot and penalties helped them progress into the Stow 22 via a lineout and, one occasioning opting for a tap-penalty 5 m from the line, shifting the ball across as you often see in the prem. As they worked their way across the front of the posts a pass went to ground and allowed Stow to escape, a further penalty compounding the error.
From a lineout, Stow started to execute a backs move and at the point there fly half put in the long pass Stratford kicker Dan Whitby, today playing outside centre, plucked the ball out of the air and ran in from 30 yards. Not being able to curve it towards the post due to tracking Stow defender Whitby missed the extra two from the tee but Stratford were still ahead, 5-0 with close to 20 minutes gone.
Determined to get back into the match, Stow went on the attack with their number nine dictating the pace of the game and their barrelling number eight proving difficult to get down, they started to build the pressure in the red zone. Stratford worked hard to cover the field, one highlight being three defenders coming together to force a Stow player over the touchline.
With 25-30 minutes gone, Stratford had already used two of their three substitutes, with Dom Wan replacing Toby Mendes (shoulder) early on, then being replaced himself (leg) by John Bruns. Aside from the Stratford try Stow the majority of possession in the previous 15 minutes, but due to the resilience of Stratford’s defence, they still lead 5-0.
Targeting scrum-half Jake Lowe at the breakdown, Stow were giving penalties away and allowed Stratford to build towards the end of the half, launching multiple attacks from a lineout just past halfway. Sending the ball quickly out of a ruck, Captain Jonny Smith made good ground, breaking the gain line and allowing Stratford front-foot ball. A dummy line from lock Zak Amond allowed Davis to slide wide as he took the ball and get inside the Stow 10, pop the ball into the hands of Jo Cook, who was running a reverse angle back towards the posts. He easily rounded the full-back to score. 12-0 with the Whitby conversion, and moments before half-time.
As the second half got under way, Stow started to attack again but Stratford eventually forced a knock on and were able to clear effectively from a scrum on their own 22. Inside centre Jack Young made it out of the 22 before a lightning quick ruck saw Sam Brittain, Michael Dawes, Lowe and Whitby all make yards and offload before Whitby was eventually brought down on the Stow 10. A succession of scrums brought the end of what was a frenetic restart, and all appeared happy to suck in the air as both physios entered the pitch.
Stratford moved further ahead, opting for the three points following a yellow card penalty for a malicious tackle on Stratford’s Lowe, bizarrely the wrong man was sent off as the culprit failed to admit to his act, possibly considering himself better than the player that was carded. Whilst down to 14, Stow still shared some of the possession, with their nine keeping the tempo up, possibly forgetting they were a man light, Stratford looked comfortable.
Even with Stow returned to 15 men, Stratford were turning over rucks and pushing their opponents back with dominant tackles. At this point the only thing not going well for Stratford was the lineout, though not the best executed, they were still getting the ball out and frustrating Stow. That was until, following another long warning by the referee to both captains for persistent squabbles, Stow finally made the breakthrough. They spread it wide and made good progress down Stratford’s right, before working to the right corner and then back to the left again to score with a man over, 15-5 following the missed conversion.
Stratford continued to work well putting tidy plays together and made their way to a 5 m lineout in the right-hand corner. Though the attack stalled, they were showing that they weren’t done yet with full-back Cook fielding a clearance well and, supported at the breakdown by his fellow backs, Stratford kept the pressure on. Stratford’s James Paterson had also entered the fray by this point, with Mendes also able to return for the last 10-15 minutes, though this fact wasn’t known when he did go on.
Stratford got back to Stowe’s half once more, kicking to touch for the lineout from a penalty. Having secured the ball, carries from Whitby, Smith, Dawes and Amond found Stratford inside the 22, with Captain Smith in the usual 10 position, he passed a ball out the back of prop Tom Stanley to fly half Davis. Davis in turn found John Bruns who, with his opposite man fixed momentarily to the spot by a decoy run from inside centre Young, was able to get the ball away to Whitby. Rediscovering his youth, having found himself on the wing he cut back in towards the posts to dot down to the right of them. Converting his own try, Stratford were now 22-5 ahead.
Stow went on to score a second try before the end of the match, but the conversion drew the final whistle, and Stratford took the match 22-12 having managed to topple second in the league with the only real disappointment being the lack of a winning bonus point. The whole team had put in a big shift, but Man of the Match went to Jake Lowe for his determination under constant harassment from the Stow players.
Stratford XV: 1. Michael Dawes* 2. Dom Leach 3. Tom Stanley* 4. Sam Brittain 5. Zak Amond* 6. Sam James* 7. Toby Mendes 8. Jonny Smith* (C) 9. Jake Lowe 10. Gwil Davis 11. Ben Humphreys 12. Jack Young 13. Dan Whitby 14. Charlie Billings* 15. Jo Cook* 16. John Bruns* 17. Dom Wan* 18. James Paterson*
*Denotes product of Stratford minis and juniors
