A RARE Adam Sturdy try was scant consolation for the Saxons as they were swept aside by fellow National One strugglers Wharfedale.

The prop forward was driven over from a rolling maul two minutes into the second half but the unconverted score failed to knock their hosts off their stride as they ran in five tries to ease their own relegation worries.

There had been little to choose between the sides in the opening minutes with the Dalesmen edging into a six-point lead thanks to a Tom Davidson penalty and Tom Barrett drop goal.

That was how it remained and it was the Saxons who looked the more likely to cross the line for the opening try as they pinned their hosts back with wave after wave of pressure.

But Wharfedale’s defence was solid and, with 15 minutes of the half remaining, they cut loose with a brace of tries.

Scrum-half Phil Woodhead was first over the line and this was followed by a second try from winger Simon Horsfall just before half-time. Davidson added the conversions and slotted over a penalty to open up a 23-0 lead at the turn.

Sturdy’s try gave the visitors a glimmer of hope but this was cancelled out within five minutes when back row Dan Solomi ran free from a tapped penalty move.

From then on it was one-way traffic with flanker Alex Rieder gathering a Barrett chip for the fourth try before replacement prop Joe Altham added a fifth just before the end, the latter being converted by Davidson.

The Saxons, who handed a first start to young prop Ryan Furness and had former Colt Sam Baker on the wing, will be hoping to claim their first win of the year when they play host to Rosslyn Park on Saturday.

Wharfedale: Gray, Tincknell, Hart, Davidson, Horsfall, Barrett (Bell 66), Woodhead; Dickinson (Altham 52), Sowery (Graham 52), Tampin (Dickinson 75), Brown, Quinn (Rhodes 67), Rieder, Solomi, Baldwin (Mason 59).

Stourbridge: Bressington, Baker, Jarvis, Barkley, Hearn, Reakes (Robinson 51), Richardson (White 47); Sturdy (Lawrence 57), Wordley (Page 41), Furness, Hughes (Dacres 26), Hurrell, Garner, Rovira, Harper.