​Stroud 42​

Cheltenham 7

TORRENTIAL rain, temperatures barely above freezing, a numbing wind and a Fromehall pitch that at best could be described as heavy did not fill spectators full of hope for an entertaining game of rugby. However this derby clash did provide a hugely positive 80 minutes from a Stroud perspective, to round off the first half of the season.

Earlier, the front row drove the Cheltenham pack backwards at an alarming rate allowing Hoyle to pick up at the base and dive over to open the scoring. 5-0.

Stroud suffered a double injury blow with first Fruin forced off by a knee injury sustained in a tackle and then Bashford leaving the field struggling with his back.

Cheltenham got the initial nudge on for the only time in the afternoon and put Stroud on the back foot. A pick and go from their number eight made further ground before a rare gap around the ruck was exploited by a Cheltenham forward, who drove straight through the middle to score by the posts.

Stroud however were straight back on the attack with Sykes cutting back in field and looking for support. Gordon found Kurtis Herbert on a powerful line and he sucked in a number of tacklers before Hoyle found Hester who fed Leworthy. Appearing to be closed down, he showed his strength and drove through a number of tacklers before crashing over in the corner. 10-7.

Hoyle continued to control the ball and after a Middlemiss carry, astutely kicked over the top, turning the Cheltenham winger and allowing Sykes to show his footballing ability to kick ahead and ground the ball to extend the lead at the break to 15-7.

The scrummage would always be a pivotal area of the game and provided the next score as another eight-man shove allowed Middlemiss to pick up and drive over the line out wide. 20-7.

With even the best of passes being affected by the wind the ball dipped at the feet of Sykes but he was able to skilfully volley the ball forward over the try line and once again win the foot race with his opposite number to touch down. 25-7.

Stroud were now in complete control. Taking the direct route, Leworthy again showed power and elusiveness and surged through the Cheltenham defence to drive over from 30m. 30-7.

Warner and Stratton made the hard yards before Regan Herbert and Middlemiss took play into the 22. Quick ball allowed Hoyle to feed Sykes inside the 15m channel where the winger show tremendous footwork and pace to round his opposite number to complete his hat-trick in the far corner. Kurtis Herbert was finally successful with another conversion from out wide. 37-7.

The Herbert brothers caused massive disruption at the breakdown allowing Davies to again scavenge a loose ball. Phipps found Leworthy on the narrow side and this time his trade-mark right hand fend was enough for him to dispatch a number of would be tacklers on his way to the corner for his third try. 42-7.

Man of the Match: Charlie Foote