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Bewdley faced a strong and experienced 3rd team from Stourport for this local derby friendly. In the first half Stourport used their more experienced and bigger pack to their advantage in both the scrum and loose to gain some useful territorial position. Bewdley on the other hand utilised the pace and skills of the backs to counter the Stourport attack. This lead to both sides cancelling each other out which the scoreless first half went to prove. The tackling of the Bewdley backs was tested to the full with several try saving tackles being made. Although Stourport missed a penalty attempt at the posts Bewdley on the whole gained the upper hand territorially. The second half saw a more open game being played by both teams. Stourport were first to break the deadlock when the forward scored with the ball being driven over from close range. The try, however, was not converted. Bewdley replied when Lloyd James's foresight saw him chip over the Stourport defence and upon catching the ball himself had only a two men to beat. Instead of taking them on he unselfishly popped the ball to Alan Banks who sprinted in for the try. Full back Nick Brown converted to give Bewdley a slender lead. Stourport pressure grew with the smaller Bewdley pack suffering in the scrum. This lead to Bewdley conceding another score against them when a five-metre scrum was driven over for Stourport's second try which was converted. Bewdley fought on with the backs trying to make an impression. Fly half Phil Arderne came closest to Bewdley's second score when from 10 metres out he dodged through the Stourport Defence only to be met with more Stourportbodies. The ball was driven over but, unsited, the referee could not give the try. Another agonising loss but again plus points were to be had, man of the match Mark Woodward and new South African fly half Phil Arderne had excellent matches. |
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