Spartans edge home (From Stroud News and Journal)

Spartans edge home

South West 2 West Stroud 6 Spartans 20

HAD you been a visitor to Fromehall Park for the first time you would have wondered who were top of the league and who were languishing at the foot of the table.

It would be easy to dismiss Stroud's claims of injury and unavailabilities for their losses this season, but when you have as distinguished and creative a player as Steve Thompson pairing with his sixth scrum half of the season you begin to get the picture.

Stroud cannot complain about supply of ball from the pack, to a man the eight did very well in imposing themselves, pushing Spartans off their put in time and again at scrums.

Spartans however are a canny bunch,but Stroud aren't so clever and Tom Burcher, who made a significant contribution otherwise, was the first of many to spend ten minutes contemplating their misdemeanours after the referee had given many warnings to each side.

Although Spartans had some speedy backs good Stroud defence held and it was they that had a two penalty to one advantage at the break, plus the initiative and would be a man better following Spartans John Duffin departing to the bin just before the half-time whistle.

Criminally Stroud let Spartans into the game with a try from Dave Moeahu that Smith converted and a game that Stroud could have controlled became a game of catch up.

Ball retention was again an issue when Stroud gave Spartans the advantage to a close range driving maul that put Rich Gwilliam over the line.

Stroud raised their game and Thompson did his best to search for openings but unaccustomed players at centre simply couldn't read the moves or find a path through Spartans.

The game was sealed when Spartans attacked down the left flank, after more than a suspicion of a knock on, and Stroud ran out of defenders as the last supporting man, Chris Patterson, was left free to sprint twenty metres to the line.

* Stroud have moved to sign four players to bolster the squad ahead of this Saturday's trip to Berry Hill.

Minchinhampton duo Tom Norton and Nick Bird have signed as well as Miles Owen, an ex Rotherham player who has returned to the Stroud area after a couple of years in Australia along with Bernhardt Haak from the Agricultural College at Cirencester.

Their arrival will help the club and with the hopeful return of club Captain Andy Jarrett after injury next week along with two of Saturdays unavailable players Jerry Perrins and Ed Crampton.

* The Nomads play at Fromehall Park in a reverse fixture.