WESTERN COUNTIES NORTH

Wells 15

Stroud 27

STROUD came out on top in a testing clash at bottom of the table Wells, writes Russ Hillier.

Wells started brightly and took the lead within five minutes with a converted penalty. Boosted by this get-go start, Wells attacked at every opportunity and forced Stroud to defend desperately, so it was with much relief after some 25 minutes that the venture into Wells' territory saw a penalty conversion by Sam Hester bring parity. This, however, was short-lived when following some great interplay, Wells regained the lead with a fine unconverted try.

With half-time approaching, Stroud pulled a try back as Regan Herbert crossed near the posts, and with Sam Hester converting, take the score to 10-8 in Stroud's favour.

With the slope advantage gone and some bad ball retention discussed during the break, Stroud started the second-half on the attack and within minutes a bustling run by Regan Herbert saw him barge through four or five would-be tackles to register a fine individual try near the posts for Hester to convert.

Stroud were now buzzing and some fine interplay culminating with a trademark offload by Dan Gordon saw Jordan Phipps cross for an unconverted try in the corner. Some weak tackling gave Wells, coming down the slope, a chance to score another converted try but this only spurred on the visitors to amass further points with Jordon Phipps scoring an excellent unconverted try in the corner and register a win for Stroud by 27 points to 15 points.

Having been lucky to be ahead at half-time, Stroud came back to create some great tries and take home the spoils from an entertaining contest.