Southern Counties North

Swindon College Old Boys 5 Stow 33

STOW took another step forward with this try bonus point win in Swindon but the game was a lot closer than the score suggests.

Both sides ran hard early on and tested each other’s defences which were equally strong.

The College back line would not have looked out of place in the pack so Stow needed to move them about but they struggled to get quick ball out down the line.

Most of the play was based around the forwards with Stow probably just edging the territory and possession.

The first score came after a period of Stow pressure, Swindon were caught offside and Nick Cafearo duly kicked the three points.

Soon afterwards the lead was doubled with another Cafearo penalty.

The first half petered out with Stow just six points to the good.

Playing with the breeze in the second half Stow needed to keep the home side pinned in their own 22, however from a wayward midfield pass Swindon stole possession, ran down the right and ended up with a line-out close to the Stow line. They won possession and crashed over for the first score.

Stow came straight back at them and a loose hand in the ruck was seen by the referee giving Cafearo the chance to add three more points. Midway through the half Stow began to turn the screw which was swiftly followed by the turning point of the match.

Two yellow cards for Old Boys' players in two consecutive rucks close their own line saw them down to 13 players.

A penalty was kicked to the corner and from the line-out the forwards drove over with Dan Salvage touching down; Cafearo converted.

From the restart Stow pressed again and another penalty awarded to Stow deep in Swindon’s 22 was once more kicked to the corner.

The ball was won and another Swindon player ended up in the bin for coming round offside.

Using their now successful tactics, Stow pushed for the line and Salvage scored his second try.

The visitors pushed on for a bonus point try. Swindon were back up to 13 players but a scrum against the head saw the ball spin wide and Chris Powesland was in support to take the pass and score under the posts, with Cafearo converting.

Five minutes from time a great run from Billy Maude saw him offload to Cafearo who was steaming up the right flank. Once around the last man he touched down for the fourth try which went unconverted.