STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC came away with two bonus points after losing 41-34 against Edwardians in their final home game of season.
Tries from Jake Lowe, Ben Cole, Gwilym Davis, George Fox and Ethan Cook made for a thrilling encounter at Pearcecroft.
The result means Stratford sit seventh in the Regional 2 Midlands West table.
Stratford scored the game’s first try when Lowe finished off a two-on-one close to the posts with Dan Whitby adding the extras.
However, Edwardians responded when Jack Lea bulldozed his way over the line following a quick a tap penalty.
And Lea crossed again for the visitors despite the best efforts of Ollie Pearson as Stratford trailed by five points at the interval.
Lea completed his hat-trick early in the second half with a try under the posts.
However, Cole responded for Stratford with a try in the corner following a lineout.
And Edwardians then had a player sent to the sin-bin for slapping the ball down at the ruck.
Stratford made the most of the man advantage to level the game as Davis strolled in under the posts and Whitby converted.
However, the visitors crossed for their bonus point try as Lea dotted down his fourth of the game from a driving maul at a lineout.
In a back-and-forth contest, Stratford took the lead with their bonus point try as Fox made the most of an overlap to sprint down the wing and under the posts as Whitby kicked the extras.
The home side stretched their lead to five points as Whitby kicked a penalty from in front of the posts.
However, Edwardians scored two tries in quick succession as Nat Harding and George Rees both touched down to put the visitors in command.
Stratford closed the gap to four points when Cook scored in the corner with Whitby unable to add the extras from the touchline.
However, any hopes of a late comeback were ended when the referee awarded the visitors a penalty in front of posts for hands in the ruck.
Edwardians used up the rest of the time on the clock to convert the penalty although the home side did at least claim two bonus points.
After the final whistle, huge cheers greeted Stratford’s veteran full-back Jo Cook after he played his final home game for the club in a near 20-year career.
Stratford are next in action against Hereford on Saturday, March 22 with kick-off at 3pm at Belvedere Lane.
