DIRECTOR of rugby Neil Mitchell hailed the defensive display that led to Stourbridge taming Sheffield Tigers for their biggest win of the season.

A six-try spree saw them secure a 40-17 victory last Saturday to extend their winning run to four games and start the new year in style.

Mitchell said: "It went really well and was very pleasing. Sheffield were determined to come out of the blocks and start the new year on a high and they threw everything at us.

"But it was the best defensive display I have seen from us for 18 months. We shut them out and because of that they began to make errors, which we quick to capitalise on."

Stour were on the front foot from the word go when alert winger Josh Trinham made a timely interception to scamper over for the opening try just two minutes into the game.

Full back Luke White was in excellent form with the boot and duly landed the following conversion to put Stour 7-0 ahead.

The lead was soon increased further when number eight and skipper Ciaran Moore bulldozed his way over for a second try on 10 minutes and then added a third on 22 minutes, White duly kicking the extras to put Stour 21-0 ahead at half time.

Super Stour then sealed the bonus point with a fourth try on 47 minutes, this time Coventry loanee Dan Rundle who was operating on the right wing, raced over to score with White adding the conversion.

Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell then began to ring the changes - and it was only at that point that Sheffield managed to get a foothold in the game when centre Jamie Broadley secured a try for the hosts after 62 minutes.

Stour soon reasserted themselves with Rundle roaring over for his second try on 68 minutes with the ever accurate White converting to put Stour out of sight at 35-5.

Sheffield enjoyed their best period in the closing 10 minutes when firstly Will Bennett, and then Broadley again added further tries with fly half Wallace adding one conversion.

But it was inevitably Stour who had the final say, seasoned campaigner Rod Petty coming off the bench to score a try in the corner - but for once, White failed to convert.

Mitchell added: "It is a real character builder to have two tough away games after the Christmas break so it was important that we got back up and running.

"There are still things to work on but we want to keep the pressure on those above us. Someone will break and we will be there to take advantage."

Stour will now go to Scunthorpe this Saturday.

They have been boosted by the return from injury of Chad Thorne, Nick Murphy and Liam Mather.