Stourbridge defeated at Hinckley

Local knowledge proved key as the Leicestermen of Hinckley delivered a game plan suited to their hard, sloping pitch.

Stour look sharp at times but couldn’t sustain the intensity for 80 minutes and eventually came away with little more than a suntan for their afternoon’s work.

The hosts drew first blood when an off the ball contact drew a penalty award that was landed by centre Joe Wilson. Stour hit straight back though from a scrum when centre Nathan Tilsley burst through Hinckley’s first up defences to score, outside half Chris Scott adding the extras.

The hosts reduced the deficit to a point when a penalty for not rolling away at the tackle was converted by Wilson.

A break by hooker Jack Lea came to nothing, similarly a threatening attack set up by a cut-out pass from fullback Rod Petty. Stour secured a penalty for a tackle offence though and Scott restored the lead. Wilson failed to land his next penalty attempt and Hinckley’s generosity was extended when they knocked on just short of the Stour tryline. But they regrouped and eventually crashed over after a set of short forward drives.

A handling error denied Stour’s next attack from a midfield turnover, Hinckley returning the compliment by fluffing a lineout throw on the Stour line. But their next drive saw a maul driven into the Stour 22 where winger Mitchell Lamb came into the line and took advantage of some flimsy tackling to set up a converted try for Wilson just short of half time to leave it 20-10 at the break.

Stour’s opening foray of the second half was a midfield break by flanker Nigel Mukarati whose pass found winger Dan Rundle but he was forced into touch near Hinckley’s 22. The tempo went up, Hinckley switching from a largely tactical kicking game to ball in hand attack probing the Stour wide defences. Stour countered when replacement prop Stef Thorp set up break down the left side, Scott’s cut-out pass found lock forward Chris Depper who broke a couple of tackles before offloading for flanker Billy Harding to score near the posts.

But Hinckley put the Stour scrum under pressure, drove right then switched left where a nicely worked overlap created a try in the corner for winger Scott Hamilton. Stour’s pack hit back and secured a scrum penalty for driving not straight but Scott’s penalty attempt flew left.

Stour started to introduce their replacements but found themselves under pressure in defence, shipping a penalty that was landed by Wilson.

Stour weren’t done though, securing a turnover in the Hinckley 22 that was worked through phases to James Otutaha who barged over, Luke White converting.

But a careless offside gifted a penalty to the hosts who kicked for the corner and ground over a catch and drive to secure a bonus point try for hooker Luke Coltman.

Hinckley tried to shift to all-out attack but shipped penalties that White kicked to the corner chasing a try bonus point. The hosts failed to engage Stour’s attempted maul though and drew a scrum award that dashed Stour’s hopes of getting anything out of the game. It ended with a late penalty kick for Wilson.

After the Easter break, Stour’s final home league fixture will be on April 22 against Tynedale.

The same day Stourbridge Lions will be looking to claim the Midlands Two West (North) title and an automatic promotion slot with victory in their final game of the season away at Newcastle under Lyme (3pm).