Stourport 21 pts - Aldridge 24 pts

We’d had a good first half and although a point down at the break, with the forwards well in control and the backs looking lively, it seemed that more of the same in the second session would produce the right result. And then it all went wrong. Stourport centre Chris Stead and winger John Watson both took full advantage of a couple of ill judged passes and some associated confusion to cross from deep positions to put the home side firmly in the driving seat with a 21 – 10 lead and just the final quarter remaining. We had a mountain to climb but heads didn’t go down as the forwards set about reducing the margin. The Stourport defence was stubborn but it slowly began to wilt as the pressure mounted. There were just 7 minutes left before we made our first inroads. A concerted shove at a five-metre scrum close to the posts put the home side’s pack in reverse with the touch down being accredited to Eddie O’Neill. Mark Large added the extras. With 3 minutes left, it was Mark Large again coming to the rescue, taking advantage this time of some Stourport benevolence by picking up a spilt ball, out wide on half way and scampering away from the defence along the touch line to dab down mid-way out. He added the conversion and with just enough time left for the restart we claimed a worthy victory that consolidates our second place in the league.

In the first half Stourport had opened the scoring after 2 minutes with a Rory Melahan penalty. This was nullified with a solid try from George Stevens who punched a hole through the centre to touch down close to the posts. Large converted. A fumbled re-start gave Stourport territory and from an ensuing ruck the ball was spun out wide to Watson who crossed in the corner. Large and Melahan exchanged a penalty apiece to make it 11 – 10 at the break.