Enjoying 1st half advantage of a stiff south westerly breeze, they were reliant on the boot of debutant outside-half Luke White for a 12 point halftime lead that appeared par at best. A gifted interception try and lapses in discipline allowed the visitors a single-point lead by the hour mark and the odds looked against Stour as they lost a man to the sin bin. But they dug deep, upped the tempo and ran hard and straight at the visitors and finally worked replacement prop Tom Harrison over from short-range. With time running out the visitors threw the kitchen sink into attack but had to settle for just a bonus point as Stour’s resolute defence held them out.

Continuity was the major feature of the Stour teamsheet, reflecting DoR Neil Mitchell’s selective summer recruitment to add strength in key positions. With loosehead prop Stef Thorp unavailable Mark George moved across from tighthead to accommodate ex-Stour M&J Chad Thorne. At hooker Jack Lea returned from Moseley, Billy Harding moving to openside flanker to cover the unavailable Joe Carpenter while Sam Wilkes provided bench cover. Newly-appointed captain Ciaran Moore returned from a season in the North East to take up the no.8 berth. It was all change at halfback with 3 debutants in the squad – starting scrum half Chris Easton (ex Ampthill), with cover off the bench from another ex-Stour M&J Ben Tibbetts. Luke White slotted in at fly half, elsewhere there were familiar faces bar replacements Tom Harrison (prop) and Derryn Jones (2nd row).

Stour kicked off and pressed an attack after the visitors kicked back infield. A penalty award for failing to release in the tackle gave White an early opportunity to calibrate his kicking radar. 2min 3-0. A scrum infringement on halfway presented a further opportunity but his effort flew wide. South Leicester worked their way upfield and opted to punt kickable penalty awards to the corners looking for tries, but Stour’s well-disciplined defences held out and they cleared the threat. The visitors shipped a further 3pts to White from a lineout infringement, 17min 6-0. A scrum penalty gave the visitors’ fly half Rickie Aley a chance to pull this back but his kick also went wide, the wind pushing it back into play but Stour centre James Otutaha reacted first to clear the danger. With both defences looking solid Stour were content to continue turning the scoreboard over as the visitors were penalised in the tackle area. 34min 9-0. A reversed penalty for dangerous footwork gave White another long-range attempt at goal but it went wide and as the clock slid past 40min the first half looked done & dusted, but the restart 22 went into touch on the full to concede a scrum at which a further penalty award gave White a simple 3 pointer. Half time 12-0.

Stour opened the 2nd half looking to keep ball in hand, Moore & 2nd row Chris Depper leading the way with short-range drives. But penalties were conceded for holding on in the tackle, allowing the visitors to attack the Stour 22 where only last-ditch defending held them out. Harding broke free from a maul and scorched up the touchline to set up an attack, but White’s attempted cut-out pass was picked off by winger Gareth Clarke who raced free to score under the posts. 49min 12-7. Stour’s lead was cut further by a successful Aley penalty, and the visitors took the lead when a tackle infringement in front of the posts gifted another 3 points. 59min 12-13.

It looked ominous for Stour when winger Joe Bridger mistimed his pursuit of the restart kick and was yellow-carded for taking the receiver out in the air. The bench subs were introduced, the tempo raised noticeably as Tibbetts arrived at scrum half. The 14 men dug deep, continuing to build patiently through the phases and were rewarded when a break down the left side was worked back inside to Harrison who broke a tackle and forced his way over the line. White converted. 64min 19-13.

Stung into action and chasing a win the visitors kicked successive penalty awards to the corner forcing Stour into desperate close-quarters defence. A runner collided with referee Callum Sharp, the visitors were awarded a 5m scrum but were driven off by the Stour pack and the immediate danger cleared. Stour conceded another penalty at a scrum, back it was kicked to the corner but a handling error conceded possession back and the hosts looked to wind the clock down running short phases. They were turned over though and forced to concede another short range lineout, but the throw was overcooked and Depper snaffled it at the tail. Stour gratefully negotiated the remaining seconds and the ball was kicked dead for a welcome though never certain victory.

Next week Stour travel to Mortimer Park to take on county rivals Luctonians in what is likely to be a full-blooded encounter. Their next home games are against promoted sides Sheffield Tigers (Sep 17th) & Scunthorpe (Sep 24th). Stourbridge Lions open their season against Newcastle (Staffs) at Stourton Park this Sat Sep 10th.

Scorers :
Tom Harrison - Try
Luke White - Pen (4), Con