Relegation worries over as Stow RFC sweep to a superb victory (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Relegation worries over as Stow RFC sweep to a superb victory

A FOCUSES Stow side beat Oakmedians 20-12 on Saturday to remove all fears with regard to possible relegation.

With the pressure on, Stow showed their true character to emerge as deserved winners against their fourth-placed visitors.

The home side started well with the forwards taking control up front and giving scrum-half Nathan Graham and his back line plenty of ball.

The pressure paid off when, from a five-metre scrum, Graham picked up and shot through the defence to score. Smith was wide with the conversion attempt.

But not for the first time this season, Stow let their opposition back into the game.

A penalty kick failed to make touch and, when the ball was immediately returned, Stow were lacking defenders and gifted Oakmedians a try in the corner. They, too, missed the extra points.

Stow took the game back to their visitors and deservedly claimed the lead. When clean ball was won from a well functioning lineout, the ball was driven 20 metres upfield.

A lively Graham tried to chip over the top, but the ball was charged down back into his hands where he quickly outpaced several defenders to score. The conversion went wide.

Just before the break, an Alamo-type scuffle took place with the Oakmedians No 7 kicking his opposite number in front of the referee who had no other option than to red card him.

The second half saw the visitors start the better and, indeed, showed why they are near the top of the table but the Stow defence was rigid.

Having had a solid first half, debutant No 8 Craig Chapman was replaced and Stow again began to take control.

Although Oakmedians were to spend virtually the rest of the game in their own half, their rivals could not turn the endless pressure into points.

It was totally against the run of play when the visitors broke out from their own 22 and, outpaced the cover, scored under the posts.

It made the extra two points a formality and, more importantly, it gave them the lead with only five minutes to go.

Stow, now staring defeat in the face, rallied and won more clean ball from a lineout.

The forwards picked up and drove through several phases before a heap of bodies crashed over the line with Rob Hudson being awarded the try.

Smith's kicking boots were obviously not functioning as this conversion also went wide.

With still only a score in and two minutes left on the clock, Stow needed to keep possession.

From a scrum just to the left- hand side of the posts 20 metres out, possession was won. Graham slipped the ball to Will Sare on the crash who took out two defenders to score and seal the game with the conversion going wide.

Fittingly, this was virtually the last play of the game as Australian centre Will Sare returns home to complete his studies after six months' service at Stow.

With the team taking a well earned league break this weekend, Stow's walking wounded will have time to recover before the visit to Marlow on Saturday, March 13.