“The Greens” made the 135-mile journey from Heslam Park, Ashby Road, knowing that a tough test awaited them from a Stour side that had something to prove after losing 3 out of their last 4 games, including two at home. Indeed, showing just five points on the league table and no wins, the visitors badly needed a win!

DoR Neil Mitchell faced some selection dilemmas and looked to his pool of players in The Lions by drafting Jon Hughes and Jack Samuel to replace the injured Reece Beddows and work committed Mike Worthington. Sam Wilson started at Fly Half as skipper, Scott was pending matrimonial commitments (all best wishes, Chris and Jade). James Rodley was unavailable for training and Jess Smith kept his place due to Joe Collingham playing 7’s in Kenya.

Consequently, a fresh mix of players needed to step up to the mark, especially in front of a crowd comprising some 120 ex players who would be more than vocal following a lubricated lunch. They were not to be disappointed and only waited 14 minutes to see Stour blitz their opponents and earn their “Try Bonus Point”.

The hosts kicked off and Dan Rundle secured possession out right. The ball found Jack Lea and with just 30 second of play, “Bowling Ball” broke several tackle attempts and crashed over the line. Afeafe Haisila stroked over a difficult conversion and, it was game on! Again, straight from the kick off Jack Lea was instrumental in the next score with a nice break and offload to Sam Wilson. His pass found Dan Rundle and the try machine eluded a struggling defence for his only try of the afternoon was enough to take him the top of try scorer league. Haisila converted to make it 14-0.

The next score was by an industrious Alex Maxwell that also came straight from the restart. Sam Montieri had gathered the ball and his break down the right wing was at pace. Progress was halted but the support play from Maxwell was good enough to see the youngster crash over and close enough for Haisila to convert the extras and give a 21-0 score line with just five minutes on the clock. This was a ‘wake up call’ for the boys from ‘Sunny Scunny’ who scored 4 minutes later after winning a penalty. Not for the only time that afternoon, their excellent lineout play and well organised driving maul were causing problems for the Stourbridge defence. From 20 metres out they trundled forward and Tighthead Prop, Oliver Cole was able to touch down. Full back Paul Cook was unable to convert but the visitors were now able to see some light ahead.

Not for long! In spite of winning two penalties in a row, The Greens were unable to capitalise on possession. Their second penalty lineout was well robbed by Matt Perks shortly followed by Noah Heward hoofing the ball some 60 metres down field. Scunthorpe cleared to touch but good lineout ball was secured and the ball was sent out left where Heward was rewarded for his previous play and vision to see a gap, hit the three quarters’ line and scamper through with 14 minutes gone.

At this point, Stour seemed to switch off in terms of attacking play and spent much of the next 20 minutes in defence. Both teams traded territory and possession through a series of penalties and untidy play including sloppy lineout ball and wayward passing. Joe Heatley made amends by ripping ball from the visitors’ grasps. Deadlock was broken on 35 minutes after another probing Heward kick earned Stour a lineout and penalty inside Scunthorpe territory. The ball was recycled and a clever pass to Afeafe Haisila created space for the pony-tailed player to push past defenders and close enough for him to convert his own try. The remainder of the half remained scoreless but Haisila did threaten again only to see subsequent possession spilled forward. A 33-5 score line was a satisfying result for some fine first half play but it could have been a lot more and must have given cause for Alex Davidson to chose some sage words of advice to the players!

The Greens kicked off the second half, which, unfortunately, was less intense than its predecessor! The next 40 minutes actually ended in a 12-12 draw but in spite of territory, possession and overlaps, the failure of players to pass or hold on to the ball, meant a full 7 minutes before any noticeable difference appeared in the score line. It started when Joe Heatley made another ‘rip’ away from a Scunny attacker and the ball was sent down the left side field. Noah Heward received the ball, at pace but a high tackle halted proceedings. The penalty lineout was thrown too long but Stour were fortunate enough to regain the ball courtesy of Sam Montieri. Slick passing interchanges hit Noah Heward for his second Try of the afternoon and Afeafe Haisila converted for a 40-5 lead.

Despite some promising attacks, fortunes were reversed when Scunthorpe man of the Match Jacob Hardy, playing at Open Side Flanker broke clear and ran a full 40 metres before his kick ahead was gathered and made safe. However it was Scunthorpe’s Full Back, Paul Cook, who capitalised on loose ball for the next Try and his touch down on 66 minutes made the score a 40-10 show.

Stourbridge hit back straight from the restart when Haisila gathered the ball and broke through the middle. He passed to replacement centre Hal Riley who, in turn passed to fellow replacement Llyr Griffiths. In support was Jack Samuel, yet another replacement, who had space and speed to dive over for his debut Try on 68 minutes but Haisila was unable to add the extras!

The remainder of the game seemed to be fairly lack lustre but included a reset scrum after a Scunny man was in front of the kicker. This was followed by a scrum penalty, failure to make touch, a knock on, and a free kick, two Yellow Cards (one each) and another Stour lineout loss. Scunthorpe had the final say after No15 broke clear to regain some space. Left wing (not the founder of Lotus Cars) Colin Chapman made further inroads before Fly Half Thomas Foster seized upon a loose ball to score the 10th Try of the afternoon and Paul Cook hit the conversion to make the final score 45-19.

Stour Man of the Match was to go to replacement Scrum Half, Callum Morris who entered the affray after 49 minutes. His accurate and rapid passing, strong running and hard tackling seemed to regain momentum for the home team.

Next week, Stour travel to meet 12th place Preston Grasshoppers who have won just 2 games, against Scunthorpe and Sheffield. However, they drew against Fylde in a 6 Try, 24-24 game, away from home so it will be a tough fixture for the boys to face! Let us hope for a good level of support even though we compete with another game taking place some 6,000 miles away!!