RUGBY: Bonus point for Stroud

STROUD displayed fragility in this defeat but managed a bonus point in a try feast, writes Sean Moore.

Earlier, Stroud started strongly, but mistake near the Yatton line however, saw the home side race away and score beneath the posts.

Within 10 minutes the score was 21-0 and from then on it was catch-up with Stroud being two scores behind for most of the game.

Stroud gained a bonus point with their five tries and all of them were well contrived and showed what Stroud could do when they had the ball.

Their first score came after good inside back play forged an overlap for winger Jack Young who sped rapidly down the touchline to gain an excellent try.

Skipper Joe Hoyle claimed the next after he beat the opposition from a scrum and ran strongly to score from twenty metres out.

The other first-half score came when, from a set piece in the Yatton 22, the alert Dan Gordon rifled a long kick across field which was neatly caught by Sam Hester who only had to touch down to score. Hester converted four of the five tries.

In the second-half Stroud’s forwards began to regain some parity and a concerted forward drive saw Mark Phillips being driven over the line.

The final score followed a brave counter attack involving hard running and deft passing with the ever alert and supporting skipper Hoyle taking the final pass and haring thirty metres to the line.

Stroud Nomads......................................... 5 Lydney...................................................49

AFTER two positive results against the Severnsiders last season, Nomads faced a much changed Lydney 2nd XV at Fromehall.

It was great to see Joe Little make his return after suffering a serious leg injury at Lydney back in March.

Nomads started on the front foot and strong carries from centres Jamie Leworthy and debutant Carl Ranscombe took play towards the Lydney 22.

A turnover and counter attack, which would become a feature of the afternoon led to a long break out. Desperate defence stopped the forward momentum but an infringement at the breakdown led to Lydney kicking a penalty.

Nomads scrum was secure and even managed to take ball off the opposition with powerful work led by Lee Geddis. Unfortunately, possession was turned over, which led to another penalty goal and two quick Lydney tries.

Although the scummage was secure, lineout ball was lost and one of these losses resulted in the powerful Lydney No8 galloping 70 meters up the pitch to score an incredible individual try.

Fred Stephenson was forced from the field with a dislocated thumb but was ably replaced by Matt Hunt playing out of position on the wing.

Despite further forays into opposition territory, Nomads were unable to breech a well organised defence whilst Lydney scored another breakaway try courtesy of their outside backs.

Lydney continued to play with pace and power at the start of the second half and scored two more early tries. Committed defence led by Sam Davis and Matt Hunt kept Lydney at bay until their fly-half spotted a gap and ghosted in for a score. Continued excellent work in the scrum again led to possession and swift distribution from Joe Spurrell allowed Cory Baker to free Carl Ranscombe to produce a burst into the opposition 22. From this position possession was retained for a number of short range drives before good hands from the back line allowed full-back Kyro Thomas to show his pace and score on the right hand side.

This score seemed to give Nomads confidence and strong carries from Chris Jones, Ryan Kibble and Fred McLennan again gave Stroud some go forward later in the game but they couldn’t cross the line for a deserved further score.