Prior to Saturday’s fixture, these two sides had met 28 times with Otley winning seven times whilst Stour had twenty-one victories to their name. The first ‘league’ meeting was on 2nd March 1991 when Otley came to Stourton Park and managed an away win by 32 points to 7. Mike Harris scored our only Try whilst Steve Baker slotted a penalty. Also in that side were Chairman, Robin Edwards and Ex President Nick Perry!

It would be 16 years before the two clubs met again but this time Stourbridge were able to secure an away win by the narrowest of margins (20-21). Indeed, we “did the double” with a more convincing 41-23 result. This was a remarkable season as Otley won the league and their only other loss, that season was against 2nd placed Manchester!

Local expectations were high but support seemed low with an unusually low volume from a normally vocal crowd. However, the quantum of MAMIL’s touring around this picturesque part of the world supported the theory that many had stayed at home favoring the World Road Cycling Championships!

With a large set of forwards and some speedy backs, it was Otley who took the lead but only by courtesy of some poor handling, wayward passing and ‘soft’ penalties. Indeed, this was yet another game where Stour’s penalty count far outweighed that of their opponents thus gifting territory, possession and points.

The first phases of running rugby were made by the visitors including a nice passage of play involving Jack Lea, James Rodley and Nick Murphy. However, Otley then found themselves in possession of the ball who ran up field from their own ‘22’ line to Stour’s. Scrambled defence led to a second penalty that Fly Half Ben Smith (not the All Black) kicked with ease. Six minutes later Smith got his second after Stour lost their lineout giving Otley impetus and a maul infringement in front of the sticks.

With 12 minutes of play the hosts were ahead but Stour seemed to be playing the most Rugby! Straight from the kick off Stour lost another lineout but an Otley player knocked the ball forward. Playing an ‘advantage’ the ball was recycled and Joe Collingham bruised his way forward. George Morgan’s perfect running angle knocked a hole in the defence and his support runner, Dan Rundle was set free, still with some work to do, but making his way over the try line. Chris Scott added the conversion making the score 6-7 with 14 minutes gone.

Stourbridge then extended their lead with a nice move that started when Afeafe Haisila caught a high ball and dashed outside the ‘22’. His pass to Dan Rundle was then given to Chris Scott who hoofed the ball down field forcing a hurried clearance. This time, Stour made no mistake with their lineout ball on the right side touchline. The ball was sent through the backs and landed in the arms of Afeafe some 25 metres out. His elusive running style hypnotised the home defence and he scampered beneath the posts for an easy Scott conversion to extend the lead to 6-14.
Otley are never a side to give up the next two scores were theirs. However, it took them 15 minutes and some considerable work to overturn Stour’s pressure. This came through some excellent work by Joe Collingham, Joe Heatley and James Rodley but negated by further penalties conceded and untidy play from both loose and set piece moves. The 7th penalty of the half saw Otley fly half, Smith, kick to the corner and a simple lineout take was used to set up No 11, Henry Roberts who sped through a gap to score Otley’s first try of the day. Smith made a difficult conversion attempt look simple and the score was now 13-14 with 7 minutes left of the first half.

The remaining minutes went scoreless but the visitors appeared to have gained an upper hand following multiple phases involving both forwards and backs. However, this was defeated when they ran out of pitch deep inside Otley’s left field and referee Michael Harris blew for half time. This was much to the relief of the host players but one would suspect that their Stourbridge counterparts would not be looking forward to 10 minutes of “observations’ from Alex Davidson! Lapses in concentration and a 7:1 penalty ratio needed some attention.

Stourbridge restarted the second period playing into the sun (Yes! The afternoon was glorious with not a drop of rain to be seen during play!) but with ‘slope’ advantage. It took some 10 minutes for their efforts to be rewarded notwithstanding a narrow penalty miss by Otley when Smith’s effort bounced off the left side upright! Some fine work by Reece Beddows involved cover tackles in close succession – one on his opposite wing shortly followed by another on his own side! Brute strength from Joe Collingham then gained some valuable yards away from danger. This was followed by another brutal break by Hal Riley and a ‘kick-chase’ was sent into Otley’s ‘22’. Fresh to the field of play, replacement second row Matt Perks was one of the first at the breakdown. He locked on to a hapless home defender who was penalized for ‘holding on’ and Stour opted for a lineout. James Rodley’s take was enough to secure a maul with Joe Collingham at the rear. He burst out to the left managing to pop pass to Joe Heatley who scurried over the line but with the forethought and skill to touch down close to the posts. Chris Scott hit the conversion.

The visitor’s lead was extended immediately from the restart when Otley were stripped of the ball. Jack Lea took play forward and sent the ball to George Morgan. He broke through and down the left wing, getting to just within the Otley half. His well timed offload was good enough to see Dan Rundle’s now trademark sprinting pull past some outstretched players and extend his season’s try tally to 5. Scott converted and Stourbridge had earned a Bonus Point with fifteen minutes left to play.

The restart led to an Otley infringement for a high tackle. In spite of several passages of play, referee Harris was playing advantage and finally called play back to where Scott opted for the extra 3 points putting a palindromic look to the scoreboard at 13-31.

However, and as witnessed previously, Otley teams are never known to give up and the scoreboard soon lost its symmetry as Stour lost territory through consecutive penalty concessions. The last one gave the hosts a lineout move that second row Brett Mitchell latched on to, crashing over the line. Smith managed another difficult conversion effort to give more hope at 20-31 and the Otley supporters did not have long to wait.

The final scores came almost immediately after the kick off. In spite of some fine work by Noah Heward, (courtesy of safe hands under the high ball and excellent cover defence) Stourbridge came under extreme pressure following a gifted pass to their opponents. This was too much to cope with and front foot phases saw Brett Mitchell get his ‘brace’ and Ben Smith his 5th kick and personal tally of 12 points.

Referee Harris then called a final play at the restart. Scott’s drop out was well judged and the Stour chase was good, securing the ball. It cam back to a gleeful Nick Murphy who hoofed the ball into touch and in a manner reminiscent of some of Jonny Wilkinson’s finer moves.

In spite of the errors and omissions within their game, Stour played to some of their strengths but never really got out of 3rd gear. Other teams in this league may not be so easy to overcome or as generous in allowing opponents back into a game. However, Saturday’s result has taken them to 3rd place just 2 points behind Caldy and four ahead of 4th placed Sedgley Park who we entertain next week!

It also means that Dan Rundle and Joe Heatley share top spot in the leading try scorers’ table and Chris Scott moves into 6th place as leading points scorers.