STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC secured a first away win since September with a 24-15 bonus point victory against bottom club Old Halesonians.
Tries from Dan Whitby, George Fox, Chris Bolton and Andy Oliver ensured Stratford started the year with back-to-back victories at Wassell Grove Lane.
The result means Stratford sit 10th in the Regional 2 Midlands West table,
Stratford made the worst possible start when an overthrow at a lineout close to the halfway line allowed the home side to create an overlap down the left.
Old Halesonians offloaded the ball through the hands to score in the corner with the conversion missed to put the hosts into an early five-point lead.
However, the visitors quickly drew level as Andy Oliver’s dummy allowed the makeshift fly-half to burst from Stratford’s 10-metre line to the Old Halesonians 10-metre line.
Oliver then produced a grubber kick which Whitby chased over the line and dotted down but could not convert his own try.
And Stratford took the lead when Zak Amond’s attempted offload went to ground and Fox kicked the ball along the floor and dotted down with Whitby unable to convert from the touchline.
However, Stratford fumbled the ball from the restart inside their own 22 which allowed Old Halesonians to level the game at 10-apiece heading into the break.
The visitors reclaimed the lead after the interval when Jake Lowe and Oliver combined to release Bolton who finished to the left of the posts as Whitby added the extas.
Old Halesonians responded by closing the gap to two points with their third try from a pick and go at a ruck with Stratford’s Sam James in the sin-bin.
However, Oliver scored Stratford’s bonus point try when he received Mike Hickey’s pass and cut in towards the posts to dot down as Whitby converted.
Stratford are next in action against Moseley Oak on Saturday, January 31 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Billesley Common.
