Farr's heroes celebrate epic cup triumph (From Stroud News and Journal)

Farr's heroes celebrate epic cup triumph

INSPIRATIONAL Stroud captain John Farr hoisted the Gloucestershire Roadchef County Cup aloft in triumph, after his side had eclipsed National League 3 South rivals Old Pats 19-18 in an epic final at Kingsholm last Tuesday.

And then he paid glowing tribute to his team who on a memorable night had outplayed and outfought their opponents, who compete two divisions above the South West 2 West outfit in a thrilling contest that graced the occasion.

"I haven't got much voice left to be honest, but that was just fantastic. The lads wanted it so badly and I'm just so glad that we are taking the trophy back to Stroud," said Farr, who was voted man of the match by the sponsors, but dedicated the award to his entire team of heroes.

"Our supporters were fantastic and the lads just played so well. We dug in even though we lost 'Bash' (sin-binned lock, James Bashford. It was just all desire and that's what wins cups at the end of the day.

"They came back at us strongly and they are a good side but we just dug deep and we won it. I can't fault our players because everyone was just brilliant. They have given me the man of the match award today, but any one of us could have won it.

"I don't know what it was like to watch, but the game was so exciting to play in and I am glad that there were plenty of tries for the crowd who gave us fantastic support.

"This means everything to us really. We made a decision early in the season to go for this competition rather than the NPI Cup and that decision has certainly been verified tonight. We have got what we wanted, it's very good for the club financially and to get promotion would make a nice double, but we will settle for this tonight," said Farr.

Stroud head coach, Andre Sharp, who named himself and fellow coach, Steve Bewick on the Stroud replacements bench, although neither came on, was equally delighted with what he felt was a superb triumph.

"I'm absolutely over the moon. In the first half we went out and did exactly what we said we were going to do. We played with pace and intelligence and it was a near flawless first half," he said.

"we knew that they would throw everything at us in the second half and we knew we had to stick at it keep confident and be patient and we were. It was very close but I think we deserved to win.

"We knew that we were the better team and we knew that if we got stuck into them we could win the game and we did and we held out. I have to give every credit to the Stroud players. They were just phenomenal.

"It has been a tough year for us all. We are in the process of rebuilding the team and the commitment and attitude the players have shown over the past six weeks has been superb. "We created some wonderful gaps and scored some brilliant tries but it was the tackling that made the game and our defence was phenomenal," he said.

Stroud president, Russell Hillier, one of the club's legendary players and loyal officials, was equally overjoyed.

"This was as good as any of the times I have had with Stroud. When we beat Leicester in their heyday it was great, but this is just as good. I think that big occasion is not the word for it. It was a great evening, superb," he said.

"We stuck at it when the going got tough and we stayed with them and at the end even Old Pats people said that we deserved it, which is a nice compliment.

"This has been a great boost for the club. When we began the season having been relegated, which was a little bit unfortunate, and then we started with a crushing defeat we envisaged that life wasn't going to be that easy.

"But we have stuck at it, the coaches have stuck at it and the players have shown what can be done when things don't seem to be going for you.

"This win is a great compliment to all of them and everyone at the club and the icing on the cake would now be if we can get into the play-off and get promotion. What a season that would be," he said.

* For full match report see this week's Stroud News & Journal.