STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC claimed their first victory of the New Year with a bonus point 33-10 success against Malvern.
A pair of tries from Nathan Geekie and further scores from Charlie Powell, Jake Lowe and Ethan Cook sealed a fine win for the home side at Pearcecroft.
And the result means Stratford sit eighth in the Regional 2 Midlands West table.
The home side made a bright start and won a penalty on Malvern’s five-metre line only for the visitors to win a penalty from the resulting scrum.
Malvern quickly reached halfway in an early back-and-forth battle as both teams enjoyed some positive early phases with defenders on high alert.
The visitors scored the game’s first try following a number of dominant carries as Malvern eventually drove over from close range and converted the try.
However, Stratford responded two minutes later when Powell weaved through the Malvern defence and touched down under the posts.
And the home side then forced a knock-on inside the Malvern half as a stable scrum allowed Stratford to reach the away side’s 22.
Stratford fly-half Geekie received a pop pass from Lowe at a ruck, drew in the covering defender and popped a pass inside to Lowe who finished in the corner with Dan Whitby converting from the touchline.
However, Malvern quickly reduced the deficit to four points after successfully kicking a penalty with the home side penalised for an infringement in front of their own posts.
And Malvern then kicked a loose ball over the try line with Stratford forced to touch the ball down behind their own line.
Stratford regained control and pinned Malvern inside their own half as Powell intercepted a pass and raced from one 22 to the other.
And Geekie eventually strolled in for the home side’s third try before the break after good work from Powell.
Malvern looked to respond after the break as the visitors enjoyed a long spell of possession in the Stratford half but were unable to turn their pressure into points.
However, Stratford replacement Cook scored his side’s bonus point try after Angus Wightman’s pick and go left the home team one metre from the posts.
Straight from the restart, Powell ran almost 50-metres with the ball before Zak Amond’s bruising carry had Stratford one metre from the posts again.
And Geekie shrugged off an attempted tackle to score the game’s final try as the home side claimed their first win of 2025.
Stratford are next in action against Old Halesonians on Saturday, February 1 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Wassell Grove.
