Aylesbury 36 Stow 0
Southern Counties North
THE SCORELINE reflects the game as Stow had a complete off day and relinquished top spot having lost to by far the better team on Saturday.
The home side had not shown their potential in their previous games but unfortunately for Stow they chose this game to get it right.
Stow were under pressure up front which did not help but when they did have possession they threw stray passes and were turned over in possession.
Aylesbury scored early when a missed clearance was run back and, with an overlap, the opening converted try was scored.
Soon afterwards the second try came when some very weak tackling let in Aylesbury and it got worse as, with Stow starved of ball, they had to defend, but from some rare ball the clearance was poor and more missed tackles resulted in Aylesbury’s third try.
The last play of the first half saw the bonus point secured by the hosts when a five-metre scrum was won and the ball spun wide. To rub salt in the wounds, the conversion went over.
The second half did see Stow compete more but, even though Aylesbury went down to 14 men, they still scored again from a pushover try.
It got worse. Stow’s heads were down and a simple crash ball through the centre should have been halted but the tackles were missed, allowing a converted try between the posts.
Stow then woke up and spent the last quarter of the game on the attack, but far too many dropped balls and stray passes limited their chances to score.
Some encouraging pick-ups and drives up front gained ground but the home side easily defended any threat, which left Stow leaving without a score.
Stow – now second behind High Wycombe – had a bad day but know they are capable of playing a lot better and will look to do so at home to Bicester on Saturday.