Stroud left in limbo as ref marches off (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stroud left in limbo as ref marches off

Stroud 8, Weston Hornets 8 STROUD were left anxiously awaiting the outcome of referee Andy Malpas' official report this week, after the Gloucester official controversially abandoned their South West Two West clash against Weston Hornets with 20 minutes left to be played.

The game was locked in an 8-8 stalemate with an hour gone, when the ball was kicked into touch and suddenly the referee blew his whistle as if it was full time and then walked off the field.

It is understood that he may have been upset by comments emanating from the touchline and decided to abandon the game, but it is still not clear whether the drawn result will stand, or whether the game will have to be replayed, and the clubs will have to await a ruling from the RFU on the issue.

Stroud, currently lying a close fourth in the table, would be particularly disappointed if it was decreed that the result should stand as they are desperate to gain promotion and return to South West One, from which they were unlucky to be demoted last season.

However they may only have themselves to blame on this occasion, as they should have been comfortably ahead of a side they had already beaten 15-9 at Weston last month, but for a strangely lacklustre performance.

After exerting early pressure, Stroud were pinned back in their own 22 for some time and were fortunate to only go behind to a penalty, but stung by that reverse they gradually began to launch more fluent attacks and from one flowing back move from a ruck Andy Westley touched down in the corner.

Julian Harry missed the conversion, but quickly added a penalty to give Stroud an 8-3 interval lead, however, some slipshod play allowed Hornets to level the scores with an unconverted try after the restart.

Stroud then had prop Tom Burcher sin-binned for preventing release, but, reduced to 14 men they stepped up a gear and were unlucky when winger Brian Pearse flew down the line for what looked a certain try, but was called back for a lineout.

Stroud looked to be getting back on top and with Burcher due back on, they fancied their chances of winning until the referee brought the contest to a sudden early halt.