Barts......................0

Stroud.................67

By Sean Moore

STROUD’S display was brimful of adventure and class.

Their defence was cast iron throughout with all players showing determined tackling.

After an early Sam Hester penalty, Barts laid siege to Stroud’s line, going through 15 phases and a score seemed inevitable.

Finlay Sharp then caught a high swirling kick under pressure and drew two men before offloading to Dan Gordon, who made a lengthy break down the middle.

With defenders closing in, he passed to Hester who took a greasy ball well and scored under the posts, for 10-0.

The next score came from Chris Jones who broke from a maul and made a determined 20-metre run before sliding over.

Hester again added the points, for 17-0.

Stroud maintained pressure, and following a lineout, Hester cleverly drew the defence before releasing Sharp down the middle.

He eluded three opponents before scoring near the posts, before it was converted for 24-0.

Another fluent attack developed with Hester and Jones heavily involved.

Clever interpassing led to Lex Brookes bursting over near the posts for another converted score, and 31-0.

Attacks were now relentless and Gordon was high tackled just short of the corner before Stroud were awarded a penalty try, which was easily converted for 38-0.

Barts never stopped trying and their powerful forwards again pounded Stroud’s line and a score seemed inevitable, but Stroud stole the ball and released Sharp near his own line.

He ran the length of the field to score under the posts with Hester converting, for 45-0.

Sam Leeworthy, on the other wing, made his scoring contribution with a determined 80-metre run, for 50-0 at half-time.

The players were understandably quick to resume after the break.

The forwards made good ground using a driving maul, leading to Harry Foote gaining possession in the centre, before he made a determined run through the heart of Barts’ defence to score near the posts, easily improved to 57-0.

Gordon then added another unconverted try after a good Leeworthy break.

In the last play, Phil Fruin showed good footballing skills by hacking the ball 50 metres upfield, but the bounce eluded him.

However, Sharp was on hand to touchdown, but it was unconverted for 67-0.