stroud rfc vnortheich rfc 24/03/2007 result?

Answer 1

EDF ENERGY SENIOR VASE-SEMI FINAL

Northwich RFC 23 - Stroud RFC -17

Stroud suffered the heart break of falling at the last hurdle in their attempts to emulate their trip to Twickenham in 1998. The game, to the independent spectator, was full of grit and quality with both sides taking a lead at some point and neither being one score away from the other.

Stroud came with a reputation of taking the opposition on through the pack, and led by James Bashford this they did laying down their marker for the whole afternoon, Dave Clutterbuck, Judd Martin and especially Adam Tarplee being very influential. Northwich fronted up well and looked to get their first tackles in to disrupt Stroud’s fluency and with a good Home crowd behind them the hosts meant business. They drew first blood when their pack Trooper, Graham Robinson, broke and tested Stroud’s defence. The big lad took some stopping but the resultant ruck saw the ball fed to Winger Andy Chubb and he scored wide out, Gary Bell converted well.

Stroud’s response was almost immediate. A good driving maul pushed Northwich back close to their line but conceded a penalty when it was deliberately collapsed. Stroud elected for the scrum but Northwich held well and although retreating the best option for Stroud was to use the three’s. There was no way through but the forwards supported the Backs and drove for the line. A couple of pick and drives brought them to the verge and with options left and right of the ruck Rob Davey collected and drove over, Julian Harry converted.

Both teams took chunks out of each other as the game swung into both halves of the field, however Stroud were punished for obstruction in a Northwich attack and Bell slotted a penalty. Their lead was extended when another Northwich foray into Stroud’s twenty two was fed to excellent Stand Off, Gary Bell, who Dropped a goal from thirty metres.

Stroud responded with free-flowing attacks where good handling saw John Wand frequently breaking the line. One attack released Kiwi Lyle Robertson, but he was taken out with a high tackle and led prostrate on the floor for a couple of minutes before being restored to Planet Earth. After consultation with a Linesman the referee decreed the player had ducked into the tackle, gave a warning to Northwich and awarded a penalty to Stroud.

Stroud looked for another score and pressed Northwich back to their line again. This time Andy Jarrett was able to use his not inconsiderable strength to bully over the line giving Harry another simple two pointer to take the lead. However, Northwich had the last word at the cusp of half time when Stroud were penalised for handling and Oranges were served with Stroud two points adrift at 16-14.

An early Harry penalty restored Stroud’s lead but Northwich were starting to move the ball to their speedy Backs. This tested Stroud but Steve Thompson, Richie Williams and Dan Gordon covered well with good tackles. Robertson and Sam Griffiths marshalled their Wings countering good field placements from Bell who constantly kicked to the right flank hoping to release the dangerous David Khanyile, a Natal exchange player.

The games turning point came with barely fifteen minutes left when a good, sustained Northwich attack set up a ruck in front of Stroud’s posts. Forwards seemed to have withheld the advance but Scrum Half Gareth Davies tried to pick from the Ruck and nip through. He dropped the ball in his haste, directly in front of the referee, but as Stroud paused momentarily for the whistle he collected and dived over the line to stun Stroud, Bell added the extra’s.

From here Northwich would simply kick to clear their lines although Stroud did have the advantage of a couple of power plays close to time that were well defended. The Northwich Front Row looked weary, such was pressure from Jarrett, Bashford and Wakefield even though fresh legs came on in the second half, but time was against Stroud to manufacture any late score.

For their part, not a single Stroud player should be ashamed of his performance, and although heavy disappointment prevailed in the changing room afterwards, to be in the last four of a National competition should be considered a wonderful achievement.

Home officials readily conceded that Northwich had not had to play a game like that all season and after the first twenty minutes felt that Stroud’s forwards would give sufficient platform to put them away, and that even down to the last ten minutes the result was far from safe for them.

Despite Stroud’s defeat though, ALL players can be “Proud to be Stroud”, and hopefully will respond next season. A kind draw would be nice, without a first round Away trip to Old Colstonians either where we almost crashed out last Sepember!

Answer 2

Northwich 23 - 17 Stroud