Stratford opened their 2012 campaign with a 'must win' fixture against Dunlop. On a crisp bright day, ideal for running rugby, Stratford did precisely this with as good an open game as has been seen at Pearcecroft for a long time, in the process garnering a harvest of twelve tries, eight converted, with four further touch downs being disallowed. Stratford kicked off towards town, and in early play confined Dunlop to their own half, flanker Marco Mladenovic charging down a kick, and with fellow back rowers Ant Avery and Dave Prichard ensuring a plentiful supply of ball for the backs. The Black and Whites scored after six minutes, full back Jo Cook fielding a Dunlop kick at speed for the ball to travel along the back line to centre Elliot Smith, who beat four players to score, fly half Simon Brain converting.

From another three quarter move, left wing birthday boy Dan Whitby shrugged off a tackle to touch down in the corner. The restart was taken by No. 8 Dave Pritchard and passed via the flankers to the backs, allowing right wing Chris Cathcart to score, Brain converting. Interpassing between forwards and backs led to a try by second row Tom Mylott after a dummy and side step, Brain again converting. Lock Flo Vialan who had been prominent so far in the exchanges now had to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Jo Cook confidently fielded a long clearance kick and the Town set off on another three quarter move to give Whitby a second try. With half time approaching Jo Cook made a try saving tackle for a half time score of 31-0.

Early in the first half a touch down by Whitby had been disallowed; at the start of the second period touch downs by Brain and prop Simon Baldwyn were disallowed before scrum half Drew Pritchard scored after another flowing three quarter move, Brain adding the points. Three minutes later after another back line move, centre Rich Pepperell added to the list of try scorers, Brain converting. The process was repeated four minutes later, when Jo Cook fielded a grubber kick five metres from his line, sped down the wing to draw the full back before feeding Pepperell backing up to score and to bring up the half century, Brain then converting.

Dave Pritchard then scored, following a kick through by Brain. A final flurry of tries was started by Brain, who converted his own try. The front row of Baldwyn, Mark Hibberd and Matt Cook were prominent throughout in the loose as well as the tight, and Hibberd now touched down following clever work by Jo Cook, and a minute later Whitby completed his hat trick, Brain adding the final conversion. To their credit, Dunlop never gave up and looked dangerous with ball in hand, but Stratford's defence, so often an Achilles heel, proved strong and resilient. This was very much a team effort, but Jo Cook had probably his most confident and best game for the 1st XV and was a worthy winner of the Dick Workman Man of the Match Trophy. Stratford worked hard for this win and face another similar test next Saturday, away at neighbours Kenilworth, K.O. 2.15pm. Support is vital. Support will also be welcome in Paris, the Rose Cup match against SCUF having been confirmed for Saturday, May 12th.

Ken Holley