Gloucester Premier

Cirencester 12

Stroud 10

CIRENCESTER continued their winning ways at The Whiteway but were pushed all the way by a determined Stroud team.

The game was not the best spectacle with both sides lacking creativity while there were too many unforced errors and a referee who failed to let the game flow.

Cirencester started well with continuous sorties deep into the Stroud 22. An early penalty was pushed just wide of the uprights while a really slick move came to an end just short of the try line.

Stroud were under the cosh but defending very well and with their No.10 Dan Gordon repeatedly kicking long upfield most of the play was between the 22s.

Cirencester had a second penalty near-miss before they were penalised for offside and Pete Sykes dissected the posts to give Stroud the lead after 20 minutes.

Cirencester lost Will McCarthy to the bin and not long after, on Stroud's second visit to Cirencester's 22, they crossed for a try under a bundle of forwards with player-coach Sam Viggers claiming the touch down; Sykes added the conversion to increase the lead at 0-10.

Cirencester were not having much joy due to constant mistakes at the breakdown until on 35 minutes a well-worked penalty move created space out wide to put Sam Hill over in the corner.

The defences continued to dominate with strong tackling from both sides.

James Fisher was deemed to have tackled high when a Stroud player ran directly into him and was awarded Cirencester's second yellow card.

The referee was in action again when a small fracas broke out and Viggers from Stroud and Hill from Cirencester had 10 minutes to cool down.

It was late on in the second period when Stroud finally cracked, Gordon slicing a clearance kick with most of his forwards offside. Ciren seized the moment and quick handling along the line put Fisher away to score out wide and level up proceedings.

Adam Seager took over the kicking duties and slotted the conversion as Cirencester hit the front for the first time.

They hung on to ball for the remainder of play and gratefully took the win.

Cirencester man of the match was Hill who used his 6ft 10in and 22 stone effectively with great carries and scrummaging as well as a try to clinch a good all-round performance.