Nomads relocated to Archway to play a rearranged league game. Once again squad numbers were high with 22 players available. Unfortunately, Newent were unable to field a front row and consequently scrums were uncontested throughout the game.
1 Damien Cox 2 Sam Davies 3 Tom Warner 4 Adam Clark 5 Lee Marshall 6 Connor Voyce 7 Tom Flanagan 8 Hector Macdonald 9 Chris Toon 10 Ian Bushall 11 James Nash 12 Jamie Leworthy 13 Tom Taylor 14 Will Mapletoft 15 Dom Stephenson Reps: Chris Smith, Steve Dunmore, Mark Samak, Chris Jones, Sam Viggers, Ben Wilkes, Alex Nash.
Nomads controlled the early possession however despite Warner and Marshall being prominent in their carries, the home side struggled to make any significant inroads into a physical and well organised visiting defence. Bushall kicked for position and excellent kick chase work from Mapletoft and Stephenson forced Newent into a clearing kick. Early line-out possession was scrappy with Newent competing well.
Newent looked to use their sizeable forwards to carry up the middle but found the Nomads defence secure with Voyce and Flanagan as ever chopping low whilst Bushall was showing powerful technique with a number of text book tackles. The first time Newent spread the ball wider – it resulted in a freakish score with a long pass dipping in front of their winger, who volleyed it skywards and then ran on to catch it and crash over in the corner. 0-5.
This seemed to galvanise Newent and they dominated the next 15 minutes continuing to use their forwards to crash up the middle whilst their centres were also very direct in their approach. The momentum forced Nomads to transgress at the breakdown and allow Newent to kick to the corner. A catch and drive was initially repelled with excellent work from Davies and Macdonald however their scrum-half was able to pop the ball up to another forward to surge over by the posts. Try Converted. 0-12.
Making use of the uncontested scrum the Newent Number 8 picked at the base and capitalised on some unusually weak Nomads tackling to run in from 50m to score in the corner. 0-17.
Momentum was now certainly with Newent and the last 10 minutes of the half could have easily have seen the game slip away from the Nomads. A response was needed and a response was indeed delivered. A pinpoint kick-off from Bushall was well chased by Marshall and Alex Nash, who had replaced his namesake James and the Newent receiver was forced into touch. Voyce found Macdonald and Nomads set off on a drive of their own. Moving into the opposition 22 Toon released the backs where Bushall found Taylor cutting a strong line. Excellent clear out work allowed Smith, who had replaced Cox, to continue to drive on before Toon found Clark, who burst through and was mauled down just short of the line. Toon distributed swiftly to Voyce, who offloaded to Warner to crash through two tacklers to score. 5-17.
Half Time​Stroud Nomads 5​Newent 2nd XV 17
Dunmore and Viggers replaced Clark and Taylor as Nomads looked to continue their momentum into the second half. Warner and Marshall were once again offering themselves as willing carriers whilst Leworthy also broke the advantage line to generate quick ball. Bushall found Viggers, who surged through a number of tacklers in typically abrasive style before being hauled down 5m out. Great support from Davies carried on the attack before Toon popped the ball to Voyce at pace and the young flanker crashed over by the posts. Bushall Converted. 12-17.
Nomads certainly had their tails up now and continued to attack - Davies and Warner carried to take play up to halfway before Toon found Voyce, who again carried with real purpose. The ball loosely popped out of the breakdown but was snapped up by Flanagan, who spotted a gap, accelerated through it before showing his pace to cruise in under the posts. Bushall Converted and in 20 minutes either side of half time, Nomads had turned the game on its head. 19-17.
Newent were far from finished and soon forced and error that the forwards capitalised on by driving into the Nomads 22. Patiently, they worked through the phases and despite solid defensive work with Voyce and Leworthy to the fore, Newent were able to spread the play wider and found their centre cutting back against the grain to cross to retake the lead. 19-22.
Wilkes joined the game in place of Leworthy and was soon putting in his share of tackles. Cox returned in place of Warner as Nomads looked to reassert themselves on the game. Excellent competition at the breakdown earned a penalty, which Bushall pushed into the Newent half. Voyce found Dunmore and a huge forward surge drove play deep into the 22. Viggers stormed in to join the drive and a score seemed inevitable. Newent miraculously thwarted the surge but Toon had the presence of mind to quickly distribute to Bushall and Wilkes, who sucked in more tacklers before Toon popped a pass to Voyce to power over for his second try. 24-22.
Jones and Samak entered the fray, replacing Smith and Voyce whilst Warner made a quick return in place of Cox. Dunmore secured the kick-off before Jones and Samak both carried up beyond halfway. Davies and Macdonald carried on the momentum as Nomads upped the tempo. This forced into Newent conceding a penalty at the breakdown, which Bushall calmly slotted between the posts from distance. 27-22.
Nomads exited well from the restart but Newent weren’t finished and spread the ball wider. Excellent cover from Mapletoft and Stephenson kept their wingers out before they went back to sending their big carriers up the middle. A combination of Dunmore, Viggers and Samak forced a turnover but Newent continued to press again running the ball back with interest. Davies and Flanagan were at the heart of the defensive effort whilst Wilkes was extremely secure in the wider channels. The blue line was holding firm but Newent to their credit changed tactic and a perfectly weighted cross kick allowed their winger to run on to the ball, collect and cross in the corner for the equalising score. 27-27.
Full Time Stroud Nomads 27​Newent 2nd XV 27
This was a great game played in an excellent spirit by both sides with the draw a fair reflection of the game. The recent positive vibe around the Nomads continued with a performance that was full of enthusiasm, commitment and skill. Things are certainly on the up and it is vital this momentum is taken into next week’s trip to Ledbury and deeper into the season. The lads visit Newent in the reverse fixture on February 22nd, which is sure to be another keenly contested encounter.