Hornets 15 pts Stroud 6 pts - THE phrase winning ugly perfectly described the Hornets battling victory against a Stroud side who were several places above them in the league.

Hornets 15 pts

Stroud 6 pts

THE phrase 'winning ugly' perfectly described the Hornets battling victory against a Stroud side who were several places above them in the league.

In winning their seventh game of the current campaign, Hornets eased away from the relegation battle.

Stroud started the game in a lively fashion and only wrong options and elementary errors denied them several opportunities to open the scoring.

However, against the run of play, Hornets opened the scoring when debutant fly-half Richard West kicked the first of his five penalty goals.

Stroud continued to fall foul of referee Dave Nelson and gave away penalties on a regular basis. West took full advantage and landed three more penalties before half-time.

The second half continued in the same vein with neither side looking capable of scoring a try. Excellent work in defence by Hornets kept Stroud at bay and a further two penalties by West kept the scoreboard ticking, although Stroud converted two penalties of their own.

It was encouraging to see Mike Darcy back in the 1st XV after a long absence through injury and Nick Francis playing at scrum-half for the first time this season looked lively and caused Stroud problems on more than one occasion.

Based on an excellent 15-man defensive display, coupled with a desire to win enabled Hornets to gain two valuable points.

On Saturday, they face Burnham at home in what promises to be another vital game as the visitors are just below Hornets in the league table.

On Sunday, the highly successful Hornets Colts side face old rivals Weston for a place in the quarter-finals of the National Colts competition. Kick-off is at 1pm at Weston's Recreation Ground.