Stow-on-the-Wold wing Cam Tyler scored a length-of-the-pitch try to clinch a thrilling 26-19 win over Midlands 2 Regional West leaders Newent on Saturday.

The teenager got the ball in hand on his own 22-metre line, stepped a couple of players on halfway before racing over for the touchdown in what was the final play of the game.

Fly-half Ollie Clements added the extras to spark huge celebrations.

“I think we shocked them a bit,” said full-back Gus Hayward, who was one of three first-half try-scorers for Stow. “They were unbeaten and had won 10 out of 10 but we always felt we could beat them, especially at home.”

Stow led 19-7 at half-time – flanker Archie Hayward and right wing Will Debenham got the other touchdowns – but Newent were right back in the game and camped on Stow’s line before Tyler’s wonder try.

“It’s his first season in the first team,” continued Hayward. “He’s very good, really quick, probably the quickest in the team.”

And Oddington Road was certainly rocking after his moment of magic.

“It was a great game and there was a big crowd,” added Hayward. “We made a good start, scored a couple of early tries but they came back into it in the second half.”

The bonus-point win cemented Stow’s position in the top three in the 12-strong division and they closed the gap on Newent to six points, although the Forest of Dean club have played one game fewer.

“We’d like to push on,” said Hayward. “We definitely want to stay in the top three. We’ve got another tough game at Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday and then we’ve got our local rivals Shipston-on-Stour at the start of the new year.

“We’ve had a couple of good results recently. We beat Ludlow away – not too many win there – but then we lost at home to Silhillians, we felt we let one go there.”

Second-placed Silhillians are a point ahead of Stow, who this season are being coached by former player Jamie Gibbs, who also played for Richmond back in the day.

“We’re still playing the Stow Way,” said Hayward. “We play as much rugby as we can, we try to keep the ball in hand.”