Warwickshire & West Midlands Sport

Stoke put to the sword at Pearcecroft

Stratford 37 Stoke 0
STRATFORD finally got back into Midlands One West action and romped to a comfortable victory at Pearcecroft on Saturday.
The visitors 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.
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 exerted all the early pressure and it came as no surprise following a five metre scrum that No 8 Richardson crashed over and 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 White and from five metres out a clean catch and drive enabled Dave Pritchard to touch down. White again added the conversion.
The visitors did threaten on occasions but were unable to unlock a solid defence marshalled by skipper Andrew Pritchard.
On the stroke of half time 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 full back Mike Plant inside his own 22.
In the 65th minute Dave Pritchard, again from a lineout close to the line, went over and ten 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.
Stratford entertain local rivals Leamington on Saturday (2.15pm)

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