Unyielding defence, ascendancy in the forward battle and the goalkicking of Luke White again proved decisive, as did another try for winger Dan Rundle who continues to score in every appearance. They remain 3rd in National 2 North and look forward to closing the gap on leaders Caldy and 2nd place Sale, both of whom must travel to Stourton Park.

The return of Will Hollis at outside centre was the only change of personnel in Neil Mitchell’s selection which again featured an entire replacement front row. Cloud cover had seen the air temperature rise to clear the overnight frost, and with barely a stir of breeze the hosts kicked off defending the northern end.

The visitors turned the ball over to give Stour a scrum in their midfield. It was moved wide to winger Josh Trinham who made inroads into the Lions’ 22, the cover brought him down but the ball was recycled. Scrum half Joe Heatley wrestled off attempted tackles, captain Ciaran Moore collected at the base and powered over from short range with the assistance of 2nd row Liam Mather. 2min 5-0.

Lions’ first attack was held up but Stour shipped a penalty for a high tackle and were grateful to watch outside-half Jon Boden’s kick at goal fly wide. But the relief was short-lived, Lions’ picking off a Stour lineout and kicking a further penalty award to the corner from where hooker Olly Taylor scored at the back of a catch & drive. Boden’s conversion put Lions ahead. 10min 5-7.

Lions attempted to repeat the exercise but their lineout throw was knocked on and Stour gathered. With advantage called over Chris Scott’s clearance kick was charged down by flanker Drew Rudkin, the Stour outside half relieved to see the ball rebound over the dead ball line. Stour’s next attack reached the Lions’ 22 but foundered when an inside pass was fumbled. Lions countered and were awarded a penalty in the shadow of Stour’s posts for not releasing in the tackle, Boden converting. 23min 5-10.

Lions were penalised for not releasing in the tackle giving White a monster 45m shot at goal. It rebounded from the foot of a post, forcing a rushed clearance from Boden. Stour attacked from the lineout and forced a cynical infringement from Lions’ flanker John Murdoch that earned him a yellow card. Stour declined an easy 3 points & opted to scrum, Heatley working the ball right where Rundle came into the line and outgassed the defenders to score near the corner. White landed the conversion. 32min 12-10.

A Stour defender drifted offside during Lions’ next attack, referee Gareth Holsgrove responding with a warning about the accumulation of penalty offences. Boden shanked the kick at goal though and Stour ran it back at the visitors, the attack rewarded by a penalty that White again knocked over. Half-time 15-10.

The 2nd half proved a cagey game of cat & mouse, the pace of the game causing handling errors to start to creep in. An early Lions attack saw a maul driven at the Stour line but it was adjudged held up. Both teams started to mix their games up with kicking for distance and ball-in-hand counters, the Stour pack establishing ascendancy in the scrum where on one occasion they drove Lions back 10m. White saw a 41m penalty attempt rebound from an upright, but Boden struck with a successful penalty when Scott became the fall guy for the penalty count and was yellow carded for failing to roll away in the tackle. White was to restore the margin shortly after though when a high tackle was penalised. 18-13 in the hour mark.

With the power play running out Lions looked to up the tempo and ran at Stour, but the defences held firm and another attacking maul got held up. Stour responded with a narrow, attritional game and secured a further successful penalty by White when a Lions defender strayed offside. 68min 21-13.

A trademark break through the fringes by flanker Billy Harding came to nothing when a support runner made a dangerous clear-out, Lions kicking for territory and launching a final all-out assault on the Stour line. Handling errors and resolute defence held them out but Stour were unable to lift the siege and conceded a well-worked try in the corner by replacement Kane Nixon as time ran out. Full time 21-18, Stour establishing a 5 league-point advantage over Lions in 4th who do though enjoy a game in hand.

This week Stour trek north to take on a Harrogate side scrapping it out in the Nat.2 North relegation battle. Next up on Feb 4th they will be at home in a must-win clash with 2nd placed Sale, ko 3pm. At Stourton Park this Sat Stourbridge Lions host Midlands 2 West (N) basement-dwellers Shrewsbury, ko 2.15pm.