DIRECTOR of rugby Neil Mitchell concedes Stourbridge's title hopes are in the last chance saloon ahead of Saturday's mammoth trek to Tynedale.

Stour make the 480-mile round trip north in the hope of winning on the road in National Two North for the first time since September 10 – they have lost five times since.

Unstoppable form at Stourton Park has been their saving grace but with leaders Caldy blazing a trail at the summit, some 17 points clear of Stourbridge, Mitchell knows their travel sickness must end.

"Looking at the long-term, it is a game we really have to win," he said.

"Ahead of Christmas we have to beat Tynedale and Luctonians because no matter what Caldy do, we will still be in range. The fear is another loss would leave us competing with Sedgley Park and Sale for a play-off spot. I have been down that route before and I don't like it.

"We can only lose one more game if we want to compete for top spot and I think we have a side that is capable of doing that but ultimately, we are on our last life. We are still in it, all we can do is keep winning games.

"The fact we still have to play all of the teams above us at home is another big factor and I don't fear anyone. The game was taken away from us in the last minute at Sedgley Park to an arguable try, we lost 14-9 at Sale and13-9 at Caldy, they were all very close games in which one mistake cost us.

"There is no super team in this league. Caldy are going well at the moment but we know from our own experience how things can change, we won 20 games in a row and finished third a few years ago. There is a long way to go."

Stour made it eight out of eight on home soil with a 15-10 victory over Hinckley.

Visiting number-eight Alex Salt gave the hosts a headache but James Otutaha and Ash Elvers won the day, albeit without seriously threatening a try-scoring bonus point and Hinckley deserved their small yield.

Nathan Tilsley and Derryn Jones are both unavailable for the trip to Tynedale.