Serious Mitch delighted by start (From Stourbridge News)

Serious Mitch delighted by start

2:00pm Thursday 13th December 2012 in Stourbridge RFC

NEIL Mitchell insists he is delighted with Stoubridge RFC’s season so far — even if his face doesn’t always show it.

The Saxons extended their unprecedented run to 14 bonus point wins with a hard-fought 35-23 win at Preston Grasshoppers last Saturday.

Victory maintained a 13-point cushion at the top of National Two North as the season hit the halfway point of the season but Mitchell for one is not relaxing.

And Stourbridge’s director of rugby, inset, admits his ultra-serious and focused demeanour this term has lead to a few comments from those around the club.

He said: “One of our supporters remarked to me after Saturday’s game he’d been shocked to see me smile at one stage!

“For me it’s a quiet way to go about your business.

“I’m very pleased with the way things are going. It’s been quite something to watch when you consider what happened last season but we still have work to do.

“That’s why I’ve spent two hours this morning studying our next opponents Westoe. We won’t be taking any chances.”

Mitchell is expecting a physical battle when the strugglers arrive at Stourton Park this Saturday, having claimed to have watched “160 minutes of game tapes which included seven brawls.”

In a boost, long-term injury concerns Richard Stott and Tom Jarvis are nearing full fitness, though neither is expected to be involved against Westoe.

After coming through a gruelling schedule of four straight games against title contenders, the next few fixtures see the Saxons face sides in the bottom half.

Mitchell is eager for his side to drive home the advantage gained in the last month and has challenged them to wrap up the title sooner rather than later.

He said: “The way things have worked out for us couldn’t have been better.

“In the second half of the season there are more games at home than away and though there are a couple of big tests left away from home, we’ve come through most of them already.

“Every week which goes by we have the chance to extend our lead at the top.

“If we can maintain this run we could have the league won by the end of February or the beginnng of March.”