For the first friendly game in the 18/19 season, saw the Stroud Nomads join The Amber and Blues on a green but still hard Victory Park. Conditions saw fit for fast, expansive rugby, in this very warm early season preparatory game; and that is exactly what the Nomads delivered.

Nomads were first on the score card by playing Cainy at their own game up front, with a lengthy driving maul, well formed and rolling down in to the danger zone, allowing Grant Nash to splinter and take first blood.

This first score was promptly followed by a second, this time, the Nomads proving he ability of a very fast and agile back line, using the full width of the pitch.

After some strong words from skipper Pollard, Cainy woke up, and responded with a positive kick off, pinning the Nomads in to their 22. Cainscross opted to use their scrummaging prowess, a feature known all to well to their league opponents last season, to drive the Stroud pack backwards, enough to allow for Cainy’s first points on the board by (***Ash Nash?***)

Stroud had identified that they were not going to Scrummage with Cainscross in any great competition, so instead, opted to use the sheer pace of their backs to throw out for two more expansive tries.

Tiredness, and players out of position began to take its toll on the Amber and Blues - an exceptional charge down and collection from Lawrence Coates, and two more trundle over tries from Ash Nash and newcomer Paul Thomas brought Cainscross to within reaching distance of the Nomads. This was helped by Max King’s 3 out of 4 successful conversions - but on this occasion, it was not to be, as the backs of the Nomads continued execute expansive and fast rugby, that Cainy could not defend.

In all, it was a great opportunity to blow out the summer cobwebs, and always a fun and well natured game played against our friends from up the road.

Cainscross would like to thank the Nomads for bringing the intensity and much needed wake up call to start this season, and we’d also like to thank the Official for the day, Andy Payne for making the game possible.