Once again, DoR Neil Mitchell was forced to make some last-minute changes when Immanuel Feyi-Waboso announced he was another victim of Covid. However, with Jack Lea now in plaster ( broken thumb) and Joe Heatley still off (ribs) he was able to reshuffle, and Stour welcomed the return of Seb Atkinson in the Centre, Matt Perks (2nd Row) and Jasper Smith in the back row with Brad Clements at Hooker. ‘Finishers’ were the ever-reliable Stef Thorp, Jess Smith, Arthur Morgan, Tobi Wilson and Chris Scott. Double Try scorer from last week, Tom Bacon, slotted in at No 15 and Mark Harrison moved on to the wing.

Whilst the strength of the Stour team had not been affected, it was obvious that playing patterns were not going to go as planned and this was to prove to be a decisive factor, particularly in the first half (as the scoreboard showed!). The visitors had a strong and mobile side, orchestrated by veteran Fly Half, Joe Carlisle. Almost a “local”, the 34 year old started his career down the road at Worcester Warriors, since which time he has been further afield, at seven different clubs including Wasps, Benetton, London Welsh, USA Perpignan, Old Elthamians and Yorkshire Carnegie.

Titans commenced proceedings playing against a stiff breeze and Stour responded well with attacks by Riley and Wilson. Penalty count also went Stour’s way including an important one on 7 minutes when Mark Harrison clamped down on an attacking Rotherham move catching the player holding on after the tackle! However, it wasn’t long before the visitors hit back with a penalty of their own and Full Back, Matthew Minogue - no relation to Kylie or Dannii (I don’t think!) hit the first 3 points of a 100% 18-point tally!

It wasn’t long before their first Try came, and Stour did not help their cause after being caught offside from a box kick. Play was called back, then resulting in further penalty advantage and a three man overlap out left. Centre, James Cooke (not their Captain!) crashed over and Minogue hit a difficult conversion.

The visitors proceeded win a penalty, immediately from the restart and followed up with three neat interchanges eventually finding Zak Poole fighting his way over to score and setting up a simple kick for Minogue. At 17-0 down with just 20 minutes played, Stour were very much on the back foot but got some respite as a Rotherham clearance went dead from just outside their own ’22. Despite losing their own lineout, the hosts did manage to put some pressure on Titans, courtesy of some clever work by Michael Heaney and another Mark Harrison tackle and steal. This time, the lineout ball was secured and sent to Seb Atkinson and his well deserved Try was converted by Heaney with 25 minutes on the clock.

Unfortunately, Titans hit straight back through No 8 Callum Bustin (not bostin’!). Minogue added 2 points of his own and this was to be last score of the half despite some spirited response from the hosts. Unfortunately, a series of unforced errors denied them taking full advantage of work by Rundle, centre pairing of Riley and Atkinson plus clever kicking from Heaney. With the final play, Titans secured a penalty on the halfway line. However, veteran Fly Half, Carlisle, decided that the momentum change was to stop, and his tap/kick meant that the referee was able to blow up for a well-deserved 10 minute break!

At 7-24 down and playing against a strong wind, Stour now faced an uphill battle, not helped when Hal Riley was unable to return due to an injury sustained earlier in the game. He was replaced by his cousin, Arthur Morgan who had a lively half, possibly because of his brother, George offering some words of advice from behind the dugout. Words like “Don’t be rubbish” (Editorial note – words changed to comply with censorship rules) were to be heard on several occasions.

It took just 4 minutes and an 80 metre break out by Fly Half Sam Boxhall to force Stour back inside their own 5 metre line. A penalty lineout then ensued and replacement Titan, Kieran Curran was on the end of a catch and drive Try, again converted by Minogue. Stourbridge managed to secure their own restart kick, winning a penalty, in the process. However, after their 5th lineout loss of the game (5 m out from Titans’ Try Line) they found themselves back inside their own half and conceding another ‘offside’ penalty. The net result was a converted Try, courtesy of Hooker Harry Newborn and Matt Minogue, making the score 7-38 with 11 minutes of the half played.

Enter Stourbridge whose sudden awakening gave the Stourton park faithful, something to cheer about. Breaks by Mark Harrison and Nigel Mukarati saw the Blue and White shirts into enemy territory and a penalty. This time, there was no mistake and safe lineout ball was recycled back to a move completed courtesy of an elusive Afeafe Haisila Lokotui. The Rotherham restart found Arthur Morgan who, obviously heeding the words of encouragement from brother George, broke through several tackles, making some 50 metres through the middle of the field. He found wingman Mark Harrison who also made some metres and returned the favour back inside to Morgan who finished of (no offence TRP) quite possibly the best Try of the game. Heaney converted and, at 19-38 there was a bit more respectability showing on the scoreboard!

…Not for long! Rotherham’s Right Winger, Connor Field, struck back 5 minutes later when a series of missed tackles allowed him to gallop over with Minogue adding the extra 2 points. The talented Full back made his last kick on 73 minutes but not before Stour had capitalised on a Titan Yellow card, territorial gains, and scrum advantage. Their well-deserved Penalty Try was not to be the final say of the game. After Minogue’s effort (see above) replacement Tobi Wilson secured his side’s restart kick and made gains into the Titan’s half. This was followed by a Stourbridge lineout and clean ball to Dan Rundle who appeared in the centres. His speed and hypnotic running lines gave him space to run in his 16th Try of the season, the 11th of the afternoon and topped by Captain Heaney’s conversion (Great title for a novel, don’t you think!?). This was a more respectable score and, for once, Stourbridge had managed to win the second half of a game!

The game next week sees the team travel some 130 miles to the picturesque former brewery site of Lockwood Park where they meet Huddersfield. Whilst the hosts are in a lowly 14th place, having won just 5 out of 18 games, make no mistake, this will be a tough day for the boys, especially as ‘Field have earned 4 losing and 4 Try bonus points. There is a supporters coach laid on and anyone interested should contact Richard Baron for more details.