Stow RFC are on the up and up after a solid victory at Bletchley (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Stow RFC are on the up and up after a solid victory at Bletchley

STOW have elevated themselves to fourth spot in the league table on the back of a solid performance in Saturday's tricky conditions at Bletchley.

However, the host looked the better side for the first ten minutes or so before the visitors eventually took control.

But Bletchley pinned back their rivals in the early melees before a charged-down clearance landed in the dead-ball zone, resulting in a touch-down for the home side.

Although Stow had prop Dave Abbott binned, they still managed to score under the posts.

A clever box-kick was collected by a lively Nathan Graham who jinked round the floundering defence to score close to the posts. Duncan Smith duly added the conversion.

The Gloucestershire team should have increased their lead soon after.

When a quickly taken lineout was won, a chip over the top saw pacey wing-man Smith win the chase.

But in the wet conditions, he couldn't keep control and the ball was spilled over the line.

This did not deter Stow from attacking again and pressure resulted in Bletchley being caught offside close to their line.

And a quickly taken penalty finished with Nathan Graham nipping round the base of the ruck for his second try.

Smith stepped up and added the extra points with a fine kick from a difficult angle.

Stow continued to maintain control in the rain and saw out the half to lead 14 points to five at the break.

At the start of the second half, the hosts came out strongly but Stow's defence and tackling remained solid.

From a Bletchley attack, Stow stole the ball in their own 22 and quick thinking by the back line sent the ball wide to Duncan Smith.

Outpacing several players, he ran in from 60 metres to score under the posts, leaving himself the easy conversion.

Bletchley seemed incapable of stringing any phases together and, in their frustration, they lost a player to the sin-bin.

As a result, Stow took full advantage. From a period of pressure camped on their opponents' line, they were awarded a penalty.

A set move finished with Nathan Graham cruising though a leaky defence to score under the posts for his third try, leaving the conversion a mere formality.

While the home side lost another player to the sin-bin in the last few minutes, Stow continued to dominate.

Although they could not add to their 28-5 tally it was, nonetheless, a very encouraging win in difficult conditions.