Stroud end on losing note (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stroud end on losing note

Stroud 16 Thornbury 18

A BAD day at the office summed up Stroud's final home game of the season at Fromehall Park.

Stroud absorbed early Thornbury pressure to move on the attack and take an early lead through a Josh Lister penalty.

Stroud followed this with their best spell of the whole game, their forwards dominating set play, to be rewarded with a pushover try by Steve Ireland and a superb touchline conversion from Lister.

Unfortunately, that was to be the end of their dominance and in quick succession, aided by poor tackling in defence, Thornbury's two wingers were allowed to cross for two soft tries, followed by a further forward drive resulting in Thornbury's scrum- half burrowing over for a third try within a 15 minute spell.

A brief venture into Thornbury's half was rewarded with another penalty by the reliable Lister with Stroud trailing 13-15 at the break.

However, in a dour second half the sides managed to trade a penalty apiece. Stroud were very much against it for the last 10 minutes, having had Rob Matts sin-binned, the final whistle came with Thornbury taking the honours 18-16.