This was the first time these two sides had met and Newent started on the front foot showing their intent early on. A penalty kicked to the corner and a secured lineout was foiled by a knock on in the maul and in the resulting scrum Newent were penalised and Stourbridge were able to clear their line.

After this initial scare Stour had the better of territory and possession. With Stour spending time in Newent"s 22 from a series of penalties kicked to touch, but although they got their driving maul moving on a couple of occasions they couldn’t breach Newent’s defence.

The game was nearly half-an-hour old before the deadlock was broken. Newent won a turnover in midfield and a deliberate knock on by Ty Lewis, earning him a yellow, saw the resulting penalty converted 3-0 to the hosts. Stour had an opportunity to get back on level terms almost immediately, after Newent were penalised for collapsing a scrum in their 22, but Freddie Morgan’s kick faded across the face of the posts. In first half stoppage time Morgan had a second opportunity to go for goal, after another scrum penalty against the hosts, but although well struck his kick went narrowly wide allowing Newent to hold onto their narrow lead at halftime.

Newent seized the initiative early in the second half with a converted try making it 10- 3. Stour were quick to respond and once more it was their dominance of the scrum which lead to Newent being penalised in midfield and down to 14 due to infringements. Stour pressed home the advantage, opting to take scrums from a series of penalties and eventually James Dallison went over from 5 metres out. Jack Teague converted the try to put Stour back in the game at 10-7 going into the final quarter.

However this was as good has it got for Stour. Newent’s response was immediate. Dallison, caught a Newent player late earning him a yellow. The resulting penalty was kicked to the corner, the lineout was secured and the ball retained through several phases. Newent’s fly half delivered a perfectly weighted cross-kick to the right-hand corner which resulted in a converted try. 17-7.

Another Newent penalty saw them kick to the corner and again Newent won their lineout and from the resulting maul crashed over making it 22-7. Minutes later Newent secured another turnover on halfway from which the bonus point try was secured again in the right-hand corner 27-7. The restart kick was knocked on, but again Newent won the ball back and Newent's MoM Dylan Leney kicked long. Stour's defence struggled to reorganise and the attempted clearance was charged down and regathered by Newent who crossed the try line again just to the right of the posts making the final score 34-7. The closing minutes of the game were punctuated by a disagreement involving several players and this led to John Lenton Jinks seeing yellow for Stour.

Stourbridge drop to fifth, six points behind league leaders Bournville. Round ten sees Stour at home to bottom placed Nuneaton.

Author: Keith Beasley

Match Report: Stourbridge Lions 19 – Newcaste Staffs 41
Venue: Stourton Park
Date: Saturday, 22nd November 2025

A tough day at the office for the Lions as Newcastle Staffs took control from the start, dominating the gain line and outmuscling Stourbridge throughout. The Lions struggled to stick to their game plan, with pod play appearing only in flashes, making it hard to build momentum.
Despite the scoreline, there were bright spots. Will Shillingford shone at full back, earning Man of the Match for his sharp counterattacks and composure under pressure. Todd Stevens also made a strong impact, showing real intent and energy when called upon.
Great to see two recent ex-Colts stepping up and making their mark at senior level—promising signs for the future!
Tries by George Walker and Jenson Ollerenshaw were supplemented by 9 points from the boot from Skipper James Westwood.
Onwards and upwards, Lions!

Author: Jacob John

Match report: Panthers 17 vs Old Hales 78
Venue: Stourton Park
Date: Friday, 21st November 2025[/b]

Friday 21st November delivered a dramatic evening under the floodlights as Stourbridge Panthers faced Old Halesowen Ladies in front of a strong crowd and a crisp, clear night sky.

Despite the atmosphere, the Panthers were once again up against it before the first whistle. With key players out of the country and several more sidelined through injury, Stourbridge were forced to field a bare 15 with just one substitute on the bench—while Old Hales arrived with a full, fresh squad of 22. To add to the challenge, a number of Panthers found themselves stepping into unfamiliar positions, proving their commitment from the outset.

From kick-off, the Panthers knew they had a mountain to climb. But true to their character, they showed grit, structure, and determination throughout the match. Their defensive shape held firm in many phases, but Old Hales used their pace around the edges to find gaps and keep the scoreboard ticking.

When injury struck for the second time Stourbridge were reduced to 14 players, the challenge intensified. Despite leading by 46 points at one stage, Old Hales declined to match player numbers, leaving the Panthers to battle on with a player down for the remainder of the game against the full 15 of Old Hales. But if anything that only fired up the Stourbridge spirit & they scored another converted try.

The Panthers crossed the whitewash three times thanks to powerful finishes from Jade Clarke, Alex Yates, and Katie Greenaway, with Izzy Taylor converting one of the tries. Each score was met with a roar from the home crowd, proud of their side’s refusal to back down.

The final scoreline read Stourbridge 17 – Old Hales 78, but it didn’t reflect the heart, resilience, and sheer fight shown by a stretched Panthers squad. With players stepping into new roles, playing out of position, and digging deep for one another, it was a night that showcased their character—even in defeat.

A tough result, but a performance full of pride from a team that simply refused to roll over.

Player of the Match: Kade McDonnell

Author: Darren Bassett.