The 1st XV cruise past Stoke

Date: 30-01-2010
Venue: home
Opponents: Stoke on Trent
Result: W 37-0

Stratford at last got back into league action on Saturday against Stoke on Trent. The visitors form had improved over recent weeks as they look to climb out of the relegation zone. But as early as the third minute the die was cast as Stratford showing discipline and creativity opened the scoring to set the tone of the match.

A reshuffle was required in the backs following an injury to Elliot Smith in the Warm up with Will Franklin moving in off the wing to join debutant Dez White in the centre. Throughout the match the Stratford pack in the set plays secured comfortably their own ball with Chris Knight and Mike Hanlon dominating the lineout from hooker Ian Hibberd’s pinpoint throwing.
It was the back row of Dave Pritchard, Jim Richardson and Hanlon who took the plaudits weighing in with four tries between them, while snuffing out any threat from the visitors.

Stratford got the game underway on a chilly but sunny afternoon and exerted all the early pressure and it came as no surprise following a five meter scrum that No 8 Richardson crashed over the line, Jake White added the extra points.

The momentum remained with the Black and Whites and on twenty minutes another score arrived courtesy of the pack, a penalty in centre field was expertly drilled in to touch by the boot of White and from five meters out a clean catch and drive enabled Dave Pritchard to touch down, White again duly added the conversion.

The visitors did threaten on occasions but they were unable to unlock a solid defence marshalled by skipper Andrew Pritchard. On the stroke of halftime White added a penalty from in front of the posts as the visitors were caught offside.

Any hope the visitors had of saving the match were extinguished after only five minutes of the second period as Mike Hanlon touched down to finish a flowing move that was started by fullback Mike Plant inside his own twenty two.

On sixty five minutes Dave Pritchard again from a lineout close to the visitor’s line went over and tem minutes later Dave Davis from the wing raced in to score in the corner. The scoring was completed by Drew Pritchard in the closing minutes to seal an emphatic victory.

Next week local rivals Leamington are at Pearcecroft.

John Butler
30/01/10