Stourbridge 19, Preston Grasshoppers 10

STOUR returned to winning ways in match which proved a tale of two halves.

After bossing the first half to build a commanding 19-0 lead at the break, Stour were unable to register a single point in the second half and missed out on a bonus point as a result.

Stour started like a house on fire and took the lead within two minutes with a well executed try.

Flanker Liam Munro made the initial break and punched a hole in the Preston defence before the ball was recycled and flung across the backs for left wing Chris Easton to crash over in the corner.

Stour increased the lead on 10 minutes, the pack winning good line out ball and then driving for the Preston line before No.8 Ciaran Moore broke from the back of the rolling maul and cantered over to score while fly half Chris Scott kicked the conversion.

Stour's progress was hindered on 18 minutes when flanker Nigel Mukarati was sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle but Preston could make little impression.

Once restored to 15, Stour were soon back in control and a third try quickly followed after concerted pressure in Preston's 22 was rewarded, Ciaran Moore surging over for his second try which Scott duly improved upon to put the Stourton Park side 19-0 in front at the break.

It just seemed a matter of time before Stour went on to bag a fourth and bonus point try, but Preston proved a different proposition after the break.

They snapped up a try of their own early on resumption when right wing Tom Hurst hurtled half the length of the pitch and then sent opposite wing Cameron Robinson racing over to score wide out.

With Stour now surprisingly making little impression, Preston then pounced for a second try on the hour mark when the ball rolled out of a scrummage close to the home line and flanker Rob Bramhall was quickest to react, gathering the loose ball and barging his way over to score.

Stour's play became increasingly more fragmented as the clocked ticked down, but they looked to have secured the all-important fourth try on 71 minutes when winger Easton raced over - only to have the try ruled out by referee Ben Russell who judged it hadn't been grounded properly.

It was a frustrating finish for Stour following such a promising first half show.

Stour: Petty; Easton, Tilsley, Otutaha, Trinham; Scott, Heatley; Harrison, Lea, Thorp; Depper, Murphy; Mukarati, Munro, Moore. Replacements: Thorne, Harding, Carpenter, White, Tibbetts.