Old Bristolians.......................................... 24 Stroud...................................................... 16

STROUD will look for a response at home to Wells on Saturday, after a frustrating defeat at Old Bristolians, writes Sean Moore.

They started brightly when Pete Sykes scored an early try, 0-5. The weighty pack were doing well in the scrums and around the field, but the lineout had yet to re-establish early season dominance.

Following a long break Harry Foote seemed to go over the line but the ref deemed no try. Stroud maintained the pressure and scrum-half Hoyle gave Gordon an excellent pass.

Gordon saw the opportunity and flew through a gap for an excellent try near the posts. Again the kick failed.

Old Bristolians were rewarded eventually when their powerful centre scored a good try, 5-10.

Adrian Potrykus was sin-binned for aggression in a maul and while he was off the home side nosed ahead with a converted try, 12-10.

Following the break Stroud were against the slope, and the elements.

They slipped back into the lead following a good penalty goal from Sam Hester, 12-13. The pendulum swung and the hosts gained the upper hand and only a brave fall from Joe Ashenford stopped a certain try.

Prop Phil Fruin was again showing remarkable speed and penetration with his powerful breaks. Stroud stretched the lead with another Sam Hester penalty goal, 12-16.

However, Bristolians won good ball from the lineout and following a well-formed catch and drive were able to power over the Stroud line, 17-16. In the final minutes they added another try depriving Stroud of a losing bonus point, 24-16.

Old Bristolians deserved their victory; Stroud did not quite match last week’s passing bonanza and some weak one-on-one tackling did not help the cause.