STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC beat Cheltenham 29-17 to secure a third straight home win although the game was abandoned on 66 minutes following two lengthy delays due to injury.
With Stratford on course for another home victory, an injury to a Cheltenham player saw the referee abandon the game early with the result to stand.
The Cheltenham player eventually regained consciousness as an ambulance arrived at Pearcecroft to provide medical treatment.
And the result means Stratford sit eighth in the Regional 2 Midlands West table.
Stratford made a blistering start as Dan Whitby scored under the posts inside the first minute before converting his own try.
However, Cheltenham responded later in the first half with an unconverted score after Stratford held the visitors up over the line on three separate occasions.
And Stratford made the most of a yellow card to a Cheltenham player to score their second try as Ethan Cook stretched over the line after the visitors failed to find touch with a penalty.
The home side scored again on the stroke of half time as Ben Cole touched down and Whitby converted to bring an end to the first half.
However, Cheltenham reduced the deficit early in the second half with a converted try under the posts after Stratford lost Zak Hamersley to the sin-bin.
Whitby kicked a penalty to stretch Stratford’s lead to 10 points before Tom Houlahan powered through a tackle and under the posts to score the home side’s bonus point try.
After Whitby converted, Cheltenham scored straight from the restart after winning a penalty and creating an overlap on the left wing.
However, the referee abandoned play on 66 minutes after an attempted tackle on Houlahan left a Cheltenham player unconscious after banging his head on the ground.
Stratford are next in action against Ludlow on Saturday, December 21 with kick-off at 2.15pm at The Linney.
