Chew Valley............................................. 24 Stroud..................................................... 13

STROUD took some positives from their opening day defeat at Chew Valley.

The Fromehall Park outfit will hope to kick-start their season at home to Chosen Hill on Saturday, 3pm.

An early handling error handed Chew Valley winger Oakley Cox a fifth-minute try and the subsequent conversion kick by Joe Cowell was successful.

Stroud responded and were awarded a penalty just inside the Chew Valley half, and given the straightness of the kick and the perfect weather conditions, Sam Hester opted to kick for goal, and was rewarded by seeing the ball sale through the posts.

After 18 minutes a good line out take by Chew on Stroud’s five-yard line and an efficient driving maul saw Tom Waddington go over for the first of his two tries. The subsequent conversion kick was missed, but Chew Valley led 12-3 at the end of the half.

In the second-half, and after a number of exchanges, a driving maul by Stroud ended with Hester going over wide out on the right-hand side. The conversion was missed , Chew Valley increased their lead after 63 minutes,Waddington went over for the second of his tries. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Chew outside half Dan Gatton made a decisive break down the middle of the pitch and put centre Charles Shallcross in with a short inside pass. The conversion was successful, Chew Valley stretched their lead to 24-8.

When Stroud used their big men close to the breakdown they threatened, but poor handling let them down on several occasions. When the ball stuck, prop Dan Smith scored a consolation try.