Inside centre James Otutaha slotted back into an otherwise settled-looking Stour lineup. Nathan Tilsley moving to outside centre with Joe Heatley resuming at scrum half and Ben Tibbetts dropping to the bench where he joined Luke White and no less than 3 prop forwards. That the playing resource cupboard was running low was also reflected by a starting pack featuring hookers Billy Harding and Sam Wilkes in the back row.

The hosts drew first blood when an off the ball contact drew a penalty award that was landed by centre Joe Wilson. 2min 3-0. Stour hit straight back though from a scrum when Tilsley burst through Hinckley’s first up defences to score, outside half Chris Scott adding the extras. 5min 3-7. The hosts reduced the deficit to a point when a penalty for not rolling away at the tackle was converted by Wilson. 8min 6-7.

A break by hooker Jack Lea came to nothing, similarly a threatening attack set up by a cut-out pass from fullback Rod Petty. Stour secured a penalty for a tackle offence though and Scott restored the lead. 16min 6-10. Wilson failed to land his next penalty attempt and Hinckley’s generosity was extended when they knocked on just short of the Stour tryline. But they regrouped and eventually no.8 Alex Salt crashed over after a set of short forward drives. 28min 13-10.

A handling error denied Stour’s next attack from a midfield turnover, Hinckley returning the compliment by fluffing a lineout throw on the Stour line. But their next drive saw a maul driven into the Stour 22 where winger Mitchell Lamb came into the line and took advantage of some flimsy tackling to set up a converted try for Wilson just short of halftime. 38min 20-10.

Stour’s opening foray of the 2nd half was a midfield break by flanker Nigel Mukarati whose pass found winger Dan Rundle but he was forced into touch near Hinckley’s 22. The tempo went up, Hinckley switching from a largely tactical kicking game to ball in hand attack probing the Stour wide defences. Stour countered when replacement prop Stef Thorp set up break down the left side, Scott’s cut-out pass found lock forward Chris Depper who broke a couple of tackles before offloading for Harding to score near the posts. 47min 20-17.

But Hinckley put the Stour scrum under pressure, drove right then switched left where a nicely worked overlap created a try in the corner for winger Scott Hamilton. 51min 25-17. Stour’s pack hit back and secured a scrum penalty for driving not straight but Scott’s penalty attempt flew left. Stour started to introduce their replacements but found themselves under pressure in defence, shipping a penalty that was landed by Wilson. 64min 28-17.

Stour weren’t done though, securing a turnover in the Hinckley 22 that was worked through phases to Otutaha who barged over, White converting. 67min 28-24. But a careless offside gifted a penalty to the hosts who kicked for the corner and ground over a catch & drive to secure a bonus point try for hooker Luke Coltman. 70min 33-24. Hinckley tried to shift to all-out attack but shipped penalties that White kicked to the corner chasing a try bonus point. The hosts failed to engage Stour’s attempted maul though and drew a scrum award that dashed Stour’s hopes of getting anything out of the game. It ended with a late penalty kick for Wilson. Full time 36-24.

After the Easter break Stour’s final home 2016/17 league fixture will be on April 22nd against Tynedale. The same day Stourbridge Lions will be looking to claim the Midlands 2 West (N) title and an automatic promotion slot with victory in their final game of the season away at Newcastle under Lyme. ko’s 3pm.