STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC lost 50-25 away at league leaders Newent to suffer their first away defeat since November.
Tries from Angus Wightman, Tom Stanley and Ollie Pearson and 10 points from the boot of Dan Whitby proved in vain at the Recreation Ground.
And the result means Stratford sit seventh in the Regional 2 Midlands West table.
The two teams traded early penalties as Dan Whitby kicked the visitors into a three-point lead before Newent replied with a successful penalty of their own.
And Newent scored the game’s first try soon after after driving the visitors over the line from a well-worked maul.
Whitby kicked another penalty to reduce the deficit before Wightman crossed for Stratford’s first try as he finished off a fine team move.
However, Newent responded with a try in the corner before the break to leave Stratford trialing by six points at the interval.
Stratford reclaimed the lead from the restart after the break as Stanley smashed his way over the try line and Whitby added the extras.
However, Newent scored two quickfire tries to take control of the game before the referee sent Stanley to the sin-bin for an off-the-ball tackle.
And the home side made the most of the extra man to score a try from a rolling maul from the resulting penalty.
Newent crossed for two further tries with Stanley still off the field to take the game out of Stratford’s reach.
However, the visitors scored the game’s final try as Pearson ran in from 30-metres out and Whitby kicked the conversion.
Stratford are next in action against Whitchurch on Saturday, February 15 with kick-off at 3pm at Edgeley Park.
