Trailing by 3 scores at the break, Stour dug deep and hit back with a brace of opportunist tries for centre James Otutaha and another for winger Ash Elvers. But they were unable to mount any sustained pressure in attack and shipped 7 tries to clinical opponents who bounce back to National 1 at the first opportunity.

Macc kicked off playing up the slope with a stiff breeze on their backs. The first lineout saw their ex-DK scrum half Jordan Brookes dart down the right flank where a neat interchange of passes drew the defenders for flanker Matt Thorp to crash over, outside half Tom Eaton celebrating his 200th club appearance by converting. 2min 0-7.

Stour no.8 James Rodley broke from a scrum to set up Stour’s first foray into the Macc 22, a series of attacks failing to stress the hosts’ well-drilled defences though and outside-half Chris Scott’s drop-goal attempt flew wide. Stour declined a penalty kick at goal, opting for lineout feed in the corner but they coughed up possession with a knock-on. A steal at the tackle by flanker Billy Harding set up a clean break by winger Ash Elvers but the move died with a dropped pass. A repeat error proved costly when Macc recovered loose ball, Brookes’ inside pass to winger Matt King setting up a score for centre Matt O’Regan. 22min 14-0.

Only an obstruction call prevented Macc punishing a wayward pass as Stour continued to throw the ball around. They found holes in the Macc defensive line but their handling continued to let them down. Macc needed no second invitation to profit from such generosity, lineout ball in the Stour 22 setting up a move that saw the defences outflanked and King scoring in the corner. 33min 19-0. The half ended with Stour again in attack but they were turned over just short of the Macc line.

The opening phases of the 2nd half threatened more of the same as Rodley was turned over at the base of the scrum, but a deep infield clearance by centre James Otutaha bounced unkindly for Macc replacement Dan Lomax. Winger Josh Trinham pounced to feed the ball back to Otutaha who crossed unhindered, Scott converting. 44min 19-7.

Macc regathered the restart and pressed but were penalised for holding on in the tackle. Stour attempted to run from deep but another fumble was punished when Brookes drove over from short range. 49min 26-7. Stour weren’t done though and finally managed to string a set of phases together, centre Joe Heatley’s cut inside saw him slice through to find Otutaha on his shoulder to take the scoring pass. 52min 26-14.

Stour conceded a penalty in their 22 and failed to reorganise quickly enough when Brookes tapped and ran, centre Eliot Brierley crossing in the corner. 62min 31-14. With legs tiring, the replacements’ benches emptying and Macc’s bonus point win in the bag the game was starting to lose shape but scrum half Rod Petty spotted space down the left flank, his dummy and draw creating a gap for Elvers to score in the corner. 71min 31-19.

With Stour unable to mount a further significant attack Macc drove home their advantage with well-worked tries for fullback Rhod Mayor and Eaton. Fulltime 43-19.

Stour will be disappointed that a previously mean defence shipped 7 tries, but will take lessons into the 2016/17 buildup that a return to National 1 would require greater consistency, a lower error-count and more clinical execution of the scoring opportunities they have demonstrated they are capable of creating.

The 2016-17 pre-season starts with training in early July, then friendly fixtures in August and a likely opening fixture date of Sep 3rd. Their National 2 North opponents will include renewed acquaintances with Yorkshire Dales outfit Wharfedale and another trip into Leicestershire to take on promoted Hinckley.