Relegation still threatens Stow RFC despite picking up a victory (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Relegation still threatens Stow RFC despite picking up a victory

STOW'S elation at winning last weekend's crucial league game 22-10 at home to High Wycombe soon turned sour as news filtered through that relegation threatened Salisbury and Wimborne had also both won.

This result means that Stow go into the last league game of the season at Windsor knowing that they have to win or draw to guarantee they will avoid the dreaded drop.

With so much at stake in last Saturday's fixture, Stow started nervously, making basic mistakes and giving away needless penalties.

As a result, the visitors took an early lead with a penalty after Stow were caught offside at a ruck.

They could have increased the lead with another penalty soon after, but the attempt fell short.

As the game progressed, Stow started to make their mark, especially up front where the forwards put pressure on the Wycombe set pieces.

And the hosts went ahead after 30 minutes when, from a scrum 15 metres out, Lawrence Patton picked up from the back and drove open.

The ball was quickly recycled by Nathan Graham who then slipped it to Tom Lyndsey and he did well to squeeze into the corner for the try.

The difficult conversion was missed and, at the break, Stow had the edge by five points to three.

Although Stow started well in the second half with their forwards again providing plenty of ball, basic errors led to them giving away good possession.

However, from a lineout ten metres out, Stow played a set move with the forwards catching and driving for the line with Rob Hudson being awarded the try.

A chance of the extra points was missed. From the restart, Stow messed up and gave the ball back to their rivals who set up their best passage of play.

This resulted in their hooker crashing over from close range under the posts, making the conversion a simple one.

With the game evenly poised at ten points apiece, Stow needed to up the tempo.

They managed this after the Wycombe defence knocked-on close to their line, following a clever grubber kick by Mathew Kyete.

The resulting scrum was won with Adam Beston coming in at pace to score under the posts with Duncan Smith knocking over an easy conversion.

Another score would put Stow in the clear with only ten minutes left.

When a failed Wycombe clearance landed in Adam Beston's hands, he slipped through to within ten metres of the line before passing to Tom Lyndsey.

With a bit of help, Lyndsey was forced over the line for his second try of the day, although Smith pulled the conversion wide.

The last few minutes proved tense as Stow were continually penalised and then went down to 13 men as two of their players were yellow carded.

Thankfully, Stow held out for a much needed victory, but now have one last game to save themselves from the igmoniny of relegation.