Second spot Fylde arrived early at Stourton Park which was a sure sign that the Lancashire outfit were ready to do business with a home side struggling with injuries and absences. Not counting Worcester Warriors’ loan players, Noah Heward (England U 20s duty) and Callum Morris (back strain), Stour were missing 10 players who have been in the starting 15 for previous matches. Last minute evacuees Mark Harrison and Reece Beddows meant a hasty reshuffle and other injuries to Hal Riley, Afe, and Mark George are not helping. Sam Montieri, Alex Maxwell (Scotland U 20s duty), Mike Worthington and Chris Rowland & Depper all had commitments elsewhere.

DoR Neil Mitchell has had his work cut out recently but was able to secure signings from Gloucester Academy in the form of Reece Dunn (wing) and Jack Bartlett (front row). Training has also been problematical getting full attendance from players for both Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Lack of match ‘fitness’ for a number of others is also an issue!

These aren’t necessarily excuses, more reasons why the visitors were able to gain their four try bonus point score in less than 20 minutes and amass seven tries before half time. The pace and power of Fylde’s forwards and backs was (to some) great to see and a travelling supporter was overheard to say it was by far their best performance all season.

It didn’t take long for a predictable pattern to form as Fylde fielded from the hosts’ kick off and immediately attacked through full back Connor Wilkinson. The Man of The Match award was well deserved with his performance producing a first half hatrick in the space of just 18 minutes. Prop Elliot Horner was first on the score sheet after just 4 minutes. Fly Half Greg Smith slotted the first of his seven successful conversions.

Seven Tries in the space of 40 minutes averages out at about one every five minutes and it seemed that every time Stour kicked the ball to their opponents, something was going to happen and cause the scoreboard to tick on! The tally could have been greater had play not been called back for a Fylde knock on.

Hefty Centre Scott Rawlings who also has two England Counties Tours under his belt caused a lot of problems in both powerful and elusive attacking play and he set up the second try scored by 2nd Row Ashcroft who powered over on 7 minutes. Stour were able to mount some counter play but lacked finesse in the final throws. By contrast, Fylde were able to put together some slick phases that saw industrious Scrum Half Adam Lanigan scuttle over, untouched by any Stour hands.

Stourbridge regathered the ball after a tricky short ‘grubber’ kick off. However, a loose pass found the Fylde flyer Thomas Carleton who currently stands 2nd in the Try scoring table (19). His lightning pace took him 60 metres up the field before being caught by his opposite number Dan Rundle who managed to haul him down a few metres short. However, Wilkinson was in support and a simple offload gave the Full Back his first five points. He followed up two minutes later, this time from a great break from 30 metres out. No 11, Tom Grimes score with the last play of the half, less than a minute later after another slick break by Full Back Wilkinson. Grimes is in 6th place on the Try Scoreboard with 13 to his name.

At 0 – 45, Stour were in for a tough second half but, showing great courage and determination in both defence, and attack, did manage a more respectable performance. However, the first 20 minutes were to see some best forgotten repeats of the first half as Fylde notched up two converted Trys through Flanker Phil Mills and Hooker Ben Gregory. The latter was courtesy of a 70-metre sprint down the left wing, beating all attempts to arrest his progress!

Stourbridge dominated the next 20 minutes, more particularly through the auspices of Joe Heatley and Dan Rundle. Stour’s defence was also holding firm whilst lineout play was still a little erratic. The hosts’ first points came after a superb break by Heatley from inside his own half. Charging down the left wing, he managed a clever chip ahead before being tackled. The ball was chased by Rundle who pounced on an uncharacteristic Fylde fumble and gathered an awkward bounce of the ball to score his 21st of the season.

Five minutes later Stour’s penalty lineout on half way failed and was then punished by a reciprocal infringement that Fylde kicked dead. The result was a scrum to Stour on the ½ way line that was sent quickly out left. Once again, Full Back Joe Heatley came into the back line and his break was a joy to behold. He broke clear and was able to slip the ball to Dan Rundle in support. There was only going to be one winner in this foot race to the line and Rundle sprinted to the posts and touched down for his Try and a top of the table 22nd score. Chris Scott added the extras and Stour had a respectable 12 unanswered points bucking the trend and adding some respectability to their performance.

The final score did go to the visitors after a very speculative cross-field kick by Greg Smith. He found his Hooker on the left wing and an overlap in the guise of replacement winger Ben Vernon who dived over in the corner.

The remaining 10 minutes went scoreless which was a testament to Stour’s resilience but it did not go without incident! A ‘no arms’ and potentially dangerous tackle saw a Yellow Card given to Tom Grimes and much to the chagrin of the home players and crowd. A brief scuffle followed the offence and which involved several handbags and the use of some extremely posh expletives. With just 60 seconds left on the referee’s watch, Stour were unable to capitalize on their penalty lineout play and their catch and drive was halted followed immediately by a shrill blast from an Acme Thunderer.