Keresley 16 pts, Stratford 38

RUGGED and tactfully aware, Keresley, hosts for the day, caused some surprise by electing to play the match on an unfamiliar pitch said to be somewhat narrower than that used in previous encounters.

Looking to avenge their heavy defeat earlier in the season and playing with a crossfield wind slightly in their favour, effort and use of the wind kept Stratford pegged back in their own half.

Neil Sheppard was continually brought into the game either fielding kicks or making tackles until the pressure inevitably told and a penalty was slotted after Stratford's illegal use of the hands at a ruck.

The restart kick was immediately repulsed as the home side's forwards drove back into what was now their familiar territory and a full 15 minutes had passed before Stratford, by virtue of a touch finding kick from Andrew Pritchard, got the ball into the home side's half.

Dave Robbins take from touch and forwards' attempted rumble failed to gain the customary momentum. But, after touch gained from Keresley being penalised for pulling down a maul, Antony Pritchard slipped the ball to Mark Webster and Keresley's defence moved offside for Stu Gardner to land the penalty.

From the restart, Robbins laid the ball off to Andrew Pritchard and Rob Turner continued the drive. Keresley shortened the line at touch but messed it up and a Webster and Richard Spencer combined thrust reached the 22.

The following touch gained from a penalty as Keresley held opponents down and eight metres out, was comfortably taken by Spencer. A maul set up allowed Webster to emerge from the side and cross the line. Gardner added the points.

Immediately, Keresley followed their kick, ensnared defenders and ball before a three-quarter transfer was halted by a deliberate knock-on resulting in a successful penalty kick.

Two surges by Matt Danes following a penalty kick which sailed just wide of the visitors posts took Stratford out of danger. A three-quarter move broke the home line without the ball being grounded.

The five-metre scrum provided ball to Gardner who drilled the ball over the bar for a well-taken drop goal.

Keresley's endeavour again took them on the attack to the 22. Loose ball from the ruck proved their undoing as Peter Jones reacted with a hoof into the home half and followed with a second hefty kick which cleared the line to be touched down in the corner.

The second half started as a repetition of the first. Sheppard was again called upon for a try- saving tackle before Stratford were caught offside as the ball was recycled.

Customary forward dominance was not achievable with forwards taking an unaccustomed share of the injury stoppages, and, as Keresley took one line-out and irresistibly surged over for a try, the game hung in the balance.

Danes was replaced by Steve Paxton who immediately sho-wed the value of fresh legs in his coverage of the field in defence and attack.

Fifteen minutes of stern resistance kept the line intact before a penalty kick after a high tackle on Robbins at a line-out saw him secure the ball at the second eight metres out and Webster had the benefit of the pack to drive him over the line.

Stratford's next attack culminated in Gardner's diagonal kick to winger David Davies, whose touchdown was denied by a ruling that a defender had first exerted downward pressure on a bobbling ball.

Stratford, however, maintained pressure from the drop-out and, after Antony Pritchard had taken a line-out, Keresley transgressed by killing the ball illegally for Gardner to establish a breathing space of two scores.

As Keresley took more risks, Stratford forwards took advantage and continually gained ground and Graham Smith, now on for Turner, put in telling kicks.

A ruck within sniffing distance of the line was comprehensively won and Richie Gray with an extravagant dummy put himself in the clear for a try.

As time ran out, Keresley again killed the ball illegally, the penalty was tapped, a maul formed on the line, and Webster wiggled over to record his third try. Gardner added the points.

Midlands Three West (South)

P W D L F A Pts

Stratford 10 10 0 0 367 71 20 Leamington 10 8 0 2 259 126 16

Old Coventrians 10 7 0 3 257 126 14

Keresley 11 6 0 5 223 208 12

Nuneaton OEs 9 5 0 4 201 173 10

Old Leams 10 4 1 5 153 190 9

Bedworth 10 3 1 6 151 164 7

Evesham 10 1 0 9 131 255 2

Kings Norton* 10 0 0 10 53 482 -6

*Points deducted.