The Under 7's take on Newport and Whitney

Date: 19-04-2009
Venue: away
Opponents: Witney
Result: 1st, 8 - 6, 2nd 1 - 11

Stratford kicked of a busy weekend of rugby first hosting touring side Newport from Shropshire in the spring sunshine on Saturday morning. Saturdays squad consisted of Daniel Hooper, Jack Vickers, Tom and Will Crowfoot, Laurence Ryan, Orran Green, Louis Hadley, Charlie Stevens, Freddie Keays and newcomer Ella Vickers. The Newport players were very much up for the games and ran out victors in the first game 6 tries to 5, with notable scores from Jack Vickers (3), Daniel Hooper and Freddie Keays.

The second game was as closely fought as the first with Jack Vickers pouncing and tagging the ball carrier repeatedly forcing errors and giving Stratford valuable possession , tries from Jack Vickers and Tom Crowfoot ensured a narrow win for Stratford (6-5) making it one game a-piece. The deciding game saw Newport running out of steam and Stratford running in the tries with an emphatic 8 - 3 win ending an enjoyable days rugby.

On Sunday the U7’s travelled to Oxfordshire side Witney, Stratford players making the long trip were Tom Boorman, Theo Barnes, Daniel Cronin, Ella Vickers, Ben Vose, Zac Bilborough, Jack Ryman, Marcus Von Sydow, Harvey Dowsett, Ben Gould and Toby Harrison.

First up were Witney’s A side which proved formidable opponents. After a quick first try from Stratford, Witney came back to finish the first half 4-2 up. Determined defence from Theo Barnes and Daniel Cronin thwarted many of the attacking moves by Witney. Coming back in the second half Stratford kept in the game with some excellent support from Marcus von Sydow and Ben Vose but two late tries from Witney gave them the victory 8-6. Tries from Toby Harrison (2), Harvey Dowsett (2) Daniel Cronin and Tom Boorman. The second game against Witney B gave the Stratford players a little more freedom to run and show their skills, this combined with consistently good play from Harvey Dowsett, some superb runs and side stepping from Tom Boorman and Jack Ryman and consistent tagging from Ben Gould, Ella Vickers and Zach Bilborough resulted in a pleasing 11 - 1 win for both players, coach and supporters. Tries came from Theo Barnes (2), Jack Ryman (2) Tom Boorman, Daniel Cronin (3), Toby Harrison (2) and Zach Bilbrough