Stroud........................................................ 18 Oldfield....................................................... 14

STROUD avenged their early-season defeat at Oldfield but only just, writes Sean Moore.

Stroud were dominant in the line out and gained several strikes against the head and the back row of Fruin Middlemiss and Higgins worked well together and were very effective.

Stroud opened the score with a penalty goal from Sam Hester 3-0, but a series of small errors dogged many Stroud attacks.

Oldfield proved dangerous on the counter-attack and showed excellent penetration from two forceful centres and a pair of speedy wings. Carl Ranscombe scored a deserved try in the corner following several phases and a well-drilled catch and drive.

Phil Middlemiss at number eight was proving hard to pull down and he linked well with scrum-half Joe Hoyle on several occasions. Just before the interval Stroud gained a critical score.

Jake Marsh received the ball 20 metres out, dummied to the right and to the left and slid straight through the gap to score an excellent individual try 15- nil.Hoyle left the field following some over vigorous rucking with the the Oldfield player receiving a yellow card.

Dan Gordon came on at scrum-half and again showed his versatility with his lengthy passing adding a new dimension to the attack.

Oldfield were gradually chipping away at the Stroud lead and scored two well worked converted tries to bring the score to 18-14 but Stroud held out for a well-deserved win.

Stroud travel to Midsomer Norton on Saturday.