Stour drop two places in the table but at least Dan Rundle remains the league’s top Try scorer despite missing out over the last two weeks! Results didn’t quite go the way we wanted with both Tynedale and Loughborough Students winning. However, next week, we can only remain as we are, or go up the table after our visit to Hinckley!

This was always destined to be a close game, given results, to date and the only difference between the two teams was a penalty goal hit by points machine Mark Ireland, on 23 minutes! Even the penalty count seemed to be evenly spread between the two sides with the referee keen to demonstrate his involvement in the game.

It was a dull, grey and drizzly afternoon that, perhaps, set the mood for 80 minutes of rugby with both sides making unforced errors and allowing some golden opportunities to pass them by. It was Stour who scored first after an early missed penalty chance with just 6 minutes on the clock.

In all fairness, the hosts dominated proceedings with some strong carries by back row boys James Rodley and Joe Collingham. Tigers did counter but George Morgan halted a searing break by danger man Pete Swatkins thanks to a last gasp tap tackle! Thankfully, Swatkins’ off load was knocked on and Stour were able to clear their lines. A Collingham break placed Stour on the front foot. The ball was fed to George Morgan, through the hands of Afeafe Haisila and out to Mark Harrison where his speed and momentum took him over the line on 12 minutes. Sam Wilson made a very difficult kick look simple.

Tigers were next on the scoreboard after their hosts conceded a penalty for ‘holding on’ followed 6 minutes later by a second Mark Ireland kick for a similar offence! The two scores were separated by a brace of Stour ‘knock on’ errors plus an off the ball incident initiated by a Tiger but reversed after some retaliation by a Stour player.

With 25 minutes gone, Stourbridge mounted a promising attack, which looked like it may end with a Try. However, with play inside the Tigers ‘22’ and the ball past an injured player, the game was halted with only a simple scrum to show for the effort. Stourbridge did, however, eventually get a well-deserved penalty opportunity a few minutes later and the boot of Sam Wilson. Score now 10-6.

Stour were unable to capitalise on territorial advantage, spending much of the next 10 minutes well inside Tiger territory. They were just a few metres from scoring but a solid Sheffield defence won a penalty and a chance to ease the pressure. The kick took them down field and the Tigers triumvirate of Swatkins, Broadley and Ireland turned the tables via a well worked Try in the left corner. Thus, at half time, the hosts found themselves 3 points behind at 10 – 13 and all to play for!

The restart saw some team changes, much to the relief of Sheffield, as an ever-present Callum Morris was replaced due to his Worcester Warriors commitments later next week. The second half saw some repeated passages of play by both sides that continued to concede penalties and lose the ball in contact through knock on play or being stripped of possession in the tackle.

A clever Tigers chip was touched down by the defence seeing a ‘22’ drop out. Tigers mounted a counter attack but Mark Harrison was able to intercept the ball. His pace and space took him back inside the Tigers’ territory but without any support, he was unable to recycle the ball. This was immediately followed by Tigers attack but the opposite winger knocked the ball on. Joe Heatley saw a space, chipped ahead and was then tackled before he had the chance to capitalise. Neither AR, nor the referee chose to acknowledge this and play was allowed to continue.

Dan Rundle was able to reverse the momentum and regain some territory, which was slowed up, but it did set up a passage of mauling. Enter Nigel Mukarati who crashed over the line on 53 minutes, immediately followed by Sam Wilson’s conversion. The hosts had regained the narrow lead by 17-13 but this was not to last, thanks to left winger Henri Packard (who sounds like he should be a French bicycle designer!) who was at the end of a nice overlap and scored with 18 minutes played in the 2nd half. Ireland converted to make it 17-20 and the rest, they say, is history!

The Yorkshire club have now picked up six wins from their last seven games and they are 10 points off the top two as things stand.

Hopefully a local derby next week will see a good level of support from the Stourton Park faithful and a chance to move up the table and some momentum leading us into the second half of this tough league!