Stratford Upon Avon 7

AEI 43

From the kick off a strong run from Jamie Barlow signalled AEI intent to take it to Stratford Upon Avon through the forwards. The big AEI forward pack was allowed to push forward keeping the, much flavoured, Stratford backline on the back foot. The first try came when lock Mark Griffiths, standing well out of his position, slipped in near the posts for a soft try. Nathan Yeung converted. Five minutes later Jonathan Jenkins chipped over the top and with Jim Udall chasing he picked up the ball to go close but the try came when Jamie Barlow, from the tap kick, crashed over the line in the corner. The final score of the first forty came from the half way line when fly-half Irwin Maximus dummied a pop behind himself then watched in amazement as the two opposition players ran pass leaving a wide open field in which he took full advantage of, stepping around the full back to go under the posts. Halftime score 18-0.

AEI were slow to start in the second half, Stratford sensing that the big boys were tried surged forward diving over the line in the corner only to be pushed back again without even going down. A free kick then saw Stratford pass out the line and an unlucky collision between the AEI fly and inside allowed Lee Ruddock to go under the post to get Stratford on the board. Suitably annoyed AEI were quick to hit back when Fly-half Irwin Maximus broke, drawing most of the Stratford backline in, to give a simple pass out to Nathan Yeung to score. Nathan converted his own try. AEI were swarming forward now but Stratford continued to defend with heart, throwing everything into stopping the AEI attacks leaving big gaps behind, showing good vision Dave Williams sliced a ball ahead setting Stuart Brown into a footrace which he won with a small hack ahead to dive on the ball scoring his 1^st try since returning from injury. The last word of the game went to Jonathan Jenkins, receiving a gift ball from the inside centre he stumbled over the line to bring the final score to 43 - 7    

The Jolly Abbott Man of match title went to kiwi import Mike Rodgers who said, “we had heard a lot about the speed of these boys out in the backline but we knew our pack was stronger. I think they were waiting for the fat boys to run out of puff but with the likes of Lee Clark and Luke Leesmate to switch around with we kept well rested and in the end were able to easily contain them and then use the ball the forwards won for us.”