Stour fall flat to Sale

A late Stour rally produced a try for replacement Joe Bridger, but they were turned over at the death chasing the game and Sale secured victory with a breakaway try for winger John O’Donnell. Poor handling meant Stour’s attacks frequently stalled, they were forced to chase the game as they got on the wrong end of the penalty count and were punished by the boot of Sale outside-half Liam McGovern.

Sale were first on the scoreboard when an attack reached the Stour 22, a defender drifted offside and McGovern slotted his kick at goal. 14min 0-3. A Sale break near halfway was halted when Stour prop Stef Thorpe called for and received a pass from the unsighted ball carrier, but his actions attracted the displeasure of referee Ben Davis who gave McGovern another shot at goal that fell short.

After unsuccessfully opting to kick an earlier penalty to the corner, Stour were awarded another when the Sale scrum infringed in the shadow of their own posts and Stour no.8 James Rodley lost the ball attempting to ground a pushover. Outside half Chris Scott bagged the three points, 28min 3-3.

Sale secured their lineout throw just inside the Stour half and moved the ball right where a missed tackle put centre Chris Mayor clean through. The cover brought him down just short of the line but with the defences stretched Sale moved it wide again for flanker Tom Ailes to score in the corner, McGovern slotting a difficult conversion. 32min 3-10.

Stour’s next attack drew a penalty award for a high tackle, they again declined the three points to kick to the corner but got turned over in attack. Sale countered and were awarded a penalty on halfway for the same offence, but McGovern’s long-range kick dropped short. Halftime 3-10.

Stour enjoyed the wind advantage in the 2nd half, but were to make poor use of it as the game got scrappier and the penalty count mounted up. McGovern extended Sale’s lead when another high tackle was penalised near the Stour 22. 43min 3-13.

A break by Stour hooker Billy Harding reached the Sale 22 but with the attack primed to strike a pass was dropped. Stour kicked a penalty award to the corner but were rucked off the ball and Sale cleared, working their way upfield through a succession of penalty awards that finally presented McGovern with a further three points, 60min 3-16.

Mr Davis’ patience ran out and flanker Joe Carpenter was despatched to the sinbin on 71min for playing the ball on the floor. With time running out Stour upped the tempo and started to run from deep, a late hit on centre Joe Heatley by Sale scrum half Sam Stelmaszek also earning him a rest in the sinbin. Stour pressed the attack and finally worked Bridger over in the corner, 79min 10-16.

The restart kick was fed to winger Ash Elvers who broke through the chase to reach Sale’s half. A penalty award was tapped and worked right but the ball carrier was stripped by O’Donnell who raced untouched from his own 22 to secure the visitors’ victory. Full time 10-23.

Having played all their home fixtures, Stour are now on the road for their final two encounters, facing Luctonians on Apr 23rd and champions Macclesfield on Apr 30th.