Sat 24 Jan 2026, 14:15
Old Hales 15 - 24 Stratford
Stratford travelled over to take on Old Halesonians (Hales) in what could prove to be a relegation crunch match, despite picking up five massive points at home to Ludlow last weekend, they travelled with a much-changed side due to unavailability on what would have been a break weekend if this fixture wasn’t postponed at the start of the month.
Stratford didn’t get off to the best of starts, despite having some early play in the Hales red zone, an overthrow on their own lineout at halfway which Hales picked up allowed them to start an attack. Creating an overlap on their left side, Hales scored in the corner with Stratford’s tacklers bringing men down but not preventing offloads and eventually the try. The conversion was missed but Hales led 5-0.
A wayward restart gave Hales the ball again but starting from the point scrum-half Jake Lowe ripped the ball from the hands of the Hales attacker just outside the Stratford 22, Stratford launched an attack of their own. Playing for what I believe to be the first time for Stratford at fly half, Andy Oliver sold a dummy in midfield on the 10 m line and ran through to the Hales 10 m line before kicking the ball along the floor for his inside centre, Dan Whitby to chase. An extra bounce took it over the try line and Whitby was first to touch the ball down and bring Stratford level 5-5, unfortunately he couldn’t add it to 2 points.
Hales went close on numerous occasions after this, making use of the wind behind their backs in the first half they pinned Stratford in their own half and made a few line breaks but the last pass failed, or what would have been penultimate ruck was turned over. With the wind keeping in an attempted penalty clearance by Stratford there was one section of play which lasted almost 5 minutes-a real test for both sides.
Stratford loose head prop for the day, Zak Amond, was next to stand out winning Stratford the ball back just inside their own half and getting some Stratford some much-needed time with ball in hand. From here, they spread the ball left with good backs running-lines making further progress. Another penalty allowed Stratford to take a lineout just outside Hales 22, once gathered they moved infield before going back left to Amond who beat a man and then was not taken down until he made it into the 22.
Amond’s attempted offload was mishandled and went to ground but winger George Fox kicked the ball along the floor and executed an often-fluffed pickup of the ball in the same action as diving over the try line to score. Being in the corner, Whitby missed the difficult conversion into the wind. The applauding Stratford fans were brought back down to earth when the restart into Stratford half was fumbled inside the 22 and led to Hales equalising within a couple of minutes, and shortly before the half-time whistle, it was 10-10 at the break.
With the wind behind them now, having taken the kick-off just outside his 22 Stratford full-back Chris Bolton kicked deep into the Hales half, the ball just trickling over the try line before being touchdown by Hales. With the ball cleared to the halfway, Stratford composed themselves and went again when prop Tom Stanley took a wide pass and broke through before popping the ball to back-row Dom Wan, the pair had got Stratford just outside the Hales 22.
A penalty then allowed Stratford a lineout 8m out which was taken and spread wide across the field before the forwards went to work with pick after pick going towards the posts and a wider pass to prop Amond. This saw him bundle over the line but denied by the referee, assessing that the ball was held up, Stratford were taken back to a penalty advantage in front of the posts. Two phases later, the backs came into action with scrum-half Lowe sending it to Oliver who drew his man and helped create a gap for full-back Bolton to breeze through and score to the left of the posts. With the conversion by Whitby, Stratford now led 10-17.
Stratford were then pinned back into their 22 again following a succession of penalties, essentially inviting Hales onto them. After a team warning to Captain Jonny Smith, Hales attempted pick and go to score a try was stopped short but the referee deemed it illegal and sent lock Sam James to the bin. Opting for a scrum penalty, Hales spread the ball left, and although winger Billings prevented his opposite man scoring, a pick and go from the resulting ruck was all they needed to score the try, being a yard from the line. The only positive for Stratford was that the Hales kicker missed the two so Stratford still led, but only 15-17.
Stratford worked hard in defence and had a few positive moments with ball in hand during the sin bin period. At one point after a late hit in the back of Lowe, Stratford had an opportunity to waste some time with a long-range penalty attempt, Whitby’s kick unfortunately pulled left of the uprights. By this point Matt Cook had replaced Chay Pusey who had worked hard for 50 minutes on what was his first team starting debut, and not long after Stratford were restored 15 men.
Another go to man in times of need for Stratford, Dave Pritchard, was as helpful as ever straight from his introduction off the bench as he stepped into 10 from a ruck with Oliver otherwise engaged and made 10 yards while defenders tried their best to stop him. The defenders eventually dragged him down, but not before he popped the ball inside to Oliver. Sadly, Oliver’s grubber kick to the corner dribbled the wrong side of the corner flag moments before Stratford centres Whitby and Charlie Powell were able to get there and pounce.
Having worked hard in defence for the second half, Stratford were able to hold Hales out with Hales attempting a kick for the post from one penalty, though every team would towards the end of the match when 15-17 down. Five minutes after this and Stratford were on the attack, another man off the bench, Mike Hickey, took a long pass to the right back on the blindside and got on the outside of the would-be defender, holding him off and progressing 10m before popping inside to Oliver on a support line.
Oliver just had 8m to go to score the try but smartly cut in towards the posts doubling the distance he had to go at such a late point in the match. This act paid dividends when Whitby added the extra two and took Stratford ahead by more than a converted try, 15-24. Hales had a good go at Stratford’s try line in the last four minutes of the game but now having to score a try they were forced to turn down penalties and eventually pressure at a ruck caused the referee to penalise Hales for sealing off. Whitby tapped the penalty and booted it into touch to end the game with Stratford taking home five points thanks to their four try victory.
Chris Bolton was awarded man of the match for his influence throughout the game, which was a close-run thing with Andy Oliver and many others on what was a tough away day for Stratford. This is now two much-needed bonus point wins for Stratford in a row ahead of what will be a tricky run to the end of the season, playing five of the top eight, starting next week away at top of the table Moseley Oak, kick-off 14:15.
Stratford XV: 1. Tom Stanley* 2. Chay Pusey* 3. Zak Amond* 4. Laurence Birch* 5. Sam James* 6. Dom Wan* 7. Toby Mendes 8. Jonny Smith* (C) 9. Jake Lowe 10. Andy Oliver 11. George Fox* 12. Dan Whitby 13. Charlie Powell* 14. Charlie Billings* 15. Chris Bolton Subs:16. Matt Cook 17. Mike Hickey 18. David Pritchard
*Denotes product of Stratford minis and juniors
