Saturday’s encounter was always going to be a tough match between two sides who have a long history of games stretching way back to the beginning of the National Leagues. Stour had made the long trip back in September coming away with a 6 try Bonus Point win keeping their hosts to just a converted try and penalty for their efforts. The writing was already on the wall for this proud, passionate and friendly club who beat Sheffield the following week but had to wait until week 14 and early December for their next victory against South Leicester and just last week for their third, against Luctonians.

For a team at the opposite end of the table, ‘Dale’s performance was well above their league standing and it took just 2 minutes for them to put points on the board after Stour gave away possession with a chip ahead. It was gathered by ex Bradford Bulls second row/prop, Rhys Lovegrove (playing in the centre!) whose strong running caused trouble all afternoon and just 2 passes later it was in the hands of Tom Mann (no relation to our own good Doctor) who scampered over in the left corner. Fly half Tom Barrett stroked over the conversion for a 7-point lead and left the hosts with somewhat puzzled faces. Rhys has come out of retirement to help Wharfedale gather some momentum in the second half of the season. If Saturday’s performance is anything to go by, his skills and inspirational qualities could well make the difference!

From the kick off, Stour conceded a penalty for not releasing and the resulting lineout nearly led to another score when Rob Davidson scythed through the middle. However, Joe Heatley’s tackle and steal shifted momentum only to see a wayward final pass with the whitewash in sight. A second steal also relieved pressure after a Dale penalty scrum. Dominance was finally rewarded on 15 minutes when Barrett hit a simple penalty in front of the posts. DoR Neil Mitchell made some radical changes after another scrum penalty and the team started to regain some territory and possession with the visitors finding it hard to exit their 22m.

However, poor finishing and basic errors denied any rewards and a number of knock on’s and failure to make touch meant a scoreless phase until 5 minutes from the half time whistle. It started when Tom Dodd made some good yards, linking with Josh Trinham on the right wing. Having gained the territory, their efforts were rewarded with a penalty but, whilst this move broke down Wharfedale knocked the ball on and Stour had a scrum which, again, was punished by Dodd and Jack Lea in support. However Jack was adjudged to have been held up over the line. The next scrum was crucial and the following maul saw Man of the Match Nick Murphy crash over for a try, duly converted by Fly Half, Robbie Forbes making it 7 – 10 but still with time for some more action and controversy.

Dale immediately countered from the kick off and once again Rob Davidson made a crucial break, this time halted by a nice cover tackle from Dan Rundle. Seconds later, a scrum ensued but Stourbridge were penalised as the AR mistakenly thought that the No 10, Ben Tibbetts had kicked the ball back into the scrum. Fortunately (or unfortunately if you hail from Grassington) the normally reliable Barrett hit the ball wide and a half time score of 7 – 10 was no reflection of how both sides had played and failed to capitalise.

Those of feint heart, look away now because the half time talk by our DoR was not for the frail! The author was not present but, the fact that Mitch walked back to the dugout early, several more changes had been made and some sheepish expressions appeared from the changing rooms were enough clues as to what had been said.

Indeed, it took just 4 minutes for Stour to strike back even though Tom Barrett had cleared the Stour kick off to well inside the hosts half. Stour won some lineout ball and a series of exchanges between forwards and backs saw Jack “bowling ball” Lea latch on to a pass on the left wing. Nick David who dotted down in the corner finished off the moved but the conversion was defeated by the wind but the score meant Stour were ahead for the first time.

Not, for long! 3 minutes later Barrett missed a penalty but banged over a drop goal from 52 metres straight from the 22 drop out! This was the last time that Dale had the points advantage and it was the in-form Jack Lea who broke the deadlock. In spite of more Stour errors, a strong base of the scrum break by Tom Dodd gave territorial advantage to Stour and lineout ball produced a rolling maul and Lea bowled over on 54 minutes with Forbes adding the extra two.

The next 10 minutes could have seen a number of scores by both sides but good defence and sloppy finishing meant the scoreboard remained static. However, on 67 minutes, the dynamics changed when Wharfedale were counter attacking and a risky pass was sent out left. With quick thinking and an almost autograph move, Josh Trinham intercepted the ball 40 metres out; nobody was going to catch the young flier. It was a mere formality that saw Nick David’s conversion go over from in front of the posts and clear water for the hosts at 26 – 13. With the bonus point banked, the Stourton Park faithful could now start or relax…or could they?

In a brave effort to retrieve a win or bonus points, Dale threw everything at Stour and, 5 minutes later, a sublime missed pass by Lovegrove found the eponymous Oliver Cicognini unmarked and in acres of space out on the left wing. His score made it 26 – 18 but Barrett’s conversion attempt went wide but still with seven minutes left on the clock.

Stourbridge had the final word in a Nick David penalty with 3 minutes left. Notwithstanding, a last ditch play that saw a repeat missed pass to Cicognini foiled (lesson learned) he was tackled into touch. Ironically, and reflecting some earlier lineout errors, Stour failed to secure the final ball but Wharfedale also repeated some frailties by knocking on their resultant possession.

In the coming weeks, both teams have some season defining games – perhaps the most important one being Stourbridge away to Tynedale on 24th February. A true “10-point” game but all fixtures are capable of producing some shock results that make this league such a strong and intriguing level of rugby.