This was Stour’s penultimate long away trek against a bogey side that they last played on 31st March 2012. This was during a season when our hosts ended up in 7th place with 84 points and Stourbridge were relegated having only managed 44 and dropped to level 4 along side Bees and Barking. That season, we lost at home by 9 – 29 thanks to 3 penalties by Mark Woodrow. The March fixture saw a better showing with tries from Nathan Bressington, Robbie Hurrell and Pete White. Other notables in our side included Sam Baker, Nile Dacres, Jim Jenner and Tom Richardson. The history books also record one Neil Mitchell on the bench! Interestingly enough, that season saw Jersey promoted with just 119 league points yet, the following year, Stour came 2nd with a massive 132 points! Five years on Jersey (and Ealing who were also in our league) now play in The Championship. It has also been a 5 years wait for Stourbridge, and local Geordie made good, Mitch to be given an opportunity to seek revenge. This was a game that needed the Stour boys to assert their promotion hopes, particularly against a side that were winning the battle of statistics.

An early start at 07:45 ensured safe arrival at the Crow Trees clubhouse where it was almost closer to the team hotel than the playing surface. Our hosts had won only a single game (at home against Otley) and this was their 4th home tie in a season that sees them at their lowest level for many years. It would be no surprise if they wanted to make full use home advantage but with a lightweight team and an average age of sub 21 it was always going to be a struggle.

After a fairly even start, it was the hosts who notched up the first score following a Stour infringement in a very kickable position and John Whyman slotted over for a 3 – 0 lead after just 18 minutes. However, it took just 4 minutes for Joe Heatley, playing in his third different starting position of the season to score his 7th try following a nice interception on the half way line and Chris Scott added the extras. Moments later Josh Trinham went down after a nasty head clash and was replaced by Nick David who was to see out the rest of the match. Blaydon hit back with a try of their own on the half hour mark. After some attacking pressure by Blaydon, Keith Laughlin charged down the Stour clearance kick and Blaydon No 15 Nathan Bailey gathered loose ball for a five pointer but they failed to convert. Shortly before half time Blaydon found themselves a man down after persistent offside calls. A period of intense pressure from Stour Power and their dominant scrum, gave the referee Benjamin Davis no option but to award a penalty try making it 8 – 14 and the remainder of the half went scoreless.

Reflecting the first “40” Blaydon started well with a 3 point penalty scored after 51 minutes by replacement fly half Ryan Foreman only for Dan Rundle to chalk up another valuable try 6 minutes later. Afeafe Haisila added the extra points. The score was then 11 – 21 and it was game on with a quarter of the game yet to play. Blaydon rallied for a short spell but, by now, had started to tire and their pressure was simply soaked up by the visitors. Indeed, Stourbridge had to wait until the 71st minute for their BP score when replacement back Nick David scored after a break out left by Haisila. The conversion was knocked over by Haisila and it was 11 – 28. The flood gates now opened with the hosts seemingly having emptied their tanks and replacement hooker, Sam Wilkes was next to add his name to the score sheet. The conversion was unsuccessful. At 11 – 33 a now rampant Stourbridge side could look forward to a fun night out in “Toon” but Haisila’s last minute, self-converted try was the icing on the cake and 11 – 40 was a more than satisfying result.

Man of the Match was Sam Pailor whose work rate and control at the set piece placed him apart from the ever industrious and passionate performances from all of his team mates.

Thanks to Andys Cook and Verlander for keeping the updates going throughout the game notwithstanding the absence of female attributes for multi tasking and the inability to match names with numbers!

Coincidentally, nearest rivals Tynedale managed a BP win over Sheffield Tigers to remain in second place with one less league point and 96 points difference compared with Stour at 135 PD.

Next week we host newly promoted Huddersfield who are in 10th place and who hammered Luctonians but narrowly lost to Tynedale by 26 – 25! They also beat Macclesfield so are not to be underestimated.

Make it a date next Saturday and also note that we are holding our Ex-Players Lunch and Ladies Lunch. There will also be music after the game, courtesy Alfie and Zac Jeavons-Fellows, aka 'Lost Tiger to the Wild'

It promises to be a great night, so please stay on to hopefully celebrate some great rugby.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is FREE and open to CLUB MEMBERS ONLY!