Chelt North 32 Stroud 24

EACH side scored three tries in this well balanced and entertaining game.

The difference, for Stroud at least, was to hang on to the ball for longer periods and not hand it back, on average every three minutes during the first period, by conceding far too many penalties.

Thus the foundation was laid for Ian Morgan, a Cornish county player and their first choice kicker, to help himself to a feast of points.

With the wind behind him Morgan slotted two penalties to take the sting out of what was a promising Stroud start. North's first scrum had simply been blown away by a far better drilled and heavier Stroud pack, and with John Farr dictating matters behind the forwards North could have been in trouble.

Lyle Robertson hit back for Stroud with a trademark bullocking run, but Morgan slotted a third penalty and converted James Steckbeck's try. Stroud, mostly without the ball, had only looked good in patches and desperately needed some fluency on the park.

Hope was provided when Julian Harry scored after a sustained drive by Stroud, he also added the extras.

To underline Stroud's comeback they scored again when North's defence simply reflected a parting of the Red Sea and now only three points off the pace 22 - 19 down the second half promised much.

Sadly it wasn't to be. North scored first when John Andrews scored out wide, but Stroud continued to attack. Several surging moves saw North struggling to defend but promising positions were lost.

Pressure eventually told and Jesse Owens scored in the corner, but a soft pushover try left Stroud with too much to do.

STROUD welcome Old Redcliffians to Fromehall Park on Saturday. The Nomads are on the road and travel to Cleeve, meanwhile the Goths make the short trip to Cheltenham Saracens.