Southern Counties North

Stow 5

Marlow 51

ANOTHER much-changed Stow side put in a very gutsy performance against the league leaders Marlow before going down 51-3.

The first half was quite tight with Stow defending really well and retaining possession which limited Marlow’s attacks.

The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty then from a period of pressure Stow eventually ran out of numbers and conceded a converted try quickly followed by a penalty.

Marlow were getting frustrated by the dogged Stow defence – and then came a moment of brilliance.

Stow won a line-out, spread the ball out wide where Ted Holmes took on the Marlow defence and with one man to beat threw a great dummy to score in the corner.

Stow held out and were worthy of being just 13-5 down at the break. Unfortunately for Stow, their tiredness and Marlow’s pace and experience resulted in the visitors taking their chances in the second half.

Although Stow continued to press and put some good phases of play together, Marlow seized on any mistakes and turnovers.

From a penalty kicked to touch, Marlow spun the ball wide and scored a converted try in the corner.

Soon after Stow lost possession in midfield and for the first time fell off the tackles to let in a converted try. Marlow’s tails were up and soon they had their try bonus point; a lost scrum went blind and was touched down in the corner.

The final quarter saw Marlow run in another three tries but Stow did have their own chances – without scoring.

It was a very encouraging and determined Stow performance, especially from some of the younger players, against a well-drilled side.