1st XV 16 - 37 Blaydon

Both sides appeared to get off to a nervous start with a series of basic errors that could have produced some early scores. The exchange of territory was more befitting a Wimbledon match and the meagre crowd found head turning to be the norm. Intent on kicking away possession and missing "first up" tackles, the visitors gifted the first score to Blaydon when they attacked from inside their own half, through Ben Mercer, to leave flanker Matt Green a run in. Baggett missed the conversion but only had to wait two minutes for a chance to convert a well worked Fenby try who, in the process, appeared to mesmerise the Stour defence. At 12-0 down after 18minutes, this was starting to look remarkably similar to the February game. Bressington made amends for his earlier miss but five minutes later Blaydon were back on the score sheet. This time it resulted from some good clearance work, a conceded lineout and an unsettled Stour scrimmage. Flanker Green, supported by prop Isaacson tidied a loose ball and although Baggett missed the conversion, Blaydon were14 points clear. On the stroke of half time he made no mistake with a 35 metre penalty and the home side settled for a 20-3 score.
The start of the second half looked to have more promise for Stour and from the kick off they were awarded a penalty from almost exactly the same spot as the last kick. Bressington's boot ensured three points but Stour optimism was to last only a minute. Blaydon kicked deep in to Stour territory and the resulting scrum proved too much for the Stourbridge defence. Scrum half Matt Young made a sniping break, from the base and held the ball long enough for the mobile prop, Kalbriaer, to latch on to a "popped" pass and crash over the line. The conversion was successful and the game remained scoreless for another 15 minutes. Yet another gifted kick into Blaydon's hands gave them the break opportunity to regain 40 metres and the Stour defence was put on "scramble" resulting in a penalty opportunity that Baggett took with comfort and Blaydon settled into a 30-6 lead. Or did they? No 15 made a scything break out right and fed a rampant replacement, former rugby league and Caribbean International, Selwyn St Bernard. He still had some yardage to make and managed to out muscle the remaining defence and score with Baggett, again, adding the two points. The resulting battlefield saw Pete Knight having a six stitch cut bandaged and Chris Rowland laid flat for several minutes. He was replaced by Alex Bristow and Llyr Griffiths was a blood replacement for Knight. It is debateable whether this made a difference or if Blaydon simply relaxed. However, what is clear is that Stour managed to put together some fluid moves through the three quarters. Firstly, Ally Bressington scored an excellent try via some quick passes and elusive running followed, 10 minutes later, by a remarkably similar effort by Ben Barkley. However, time, and Blaydon players were running out. The home side lost both second rows, the first being a red card to Whitehead for an attack on Mark George. Next to go was yellow carded Tomes. However, the referee decided that four minutes of injury time were enough. In spite of this, the game was played in good spirit and it was an entertaining afternoon for supporters of rugby.
On the day, Blaydon deserved their five points but the score line did not necessarily reflect the difference between the two teams. The home side took their opportunities. Stour did not. Stour gave away a lot of possession. Blaydon did not. The young and talented squad should learn their lessons, move on and ensure that today's experience is tomorrow's victory.

Scorers: Blaydon
· Green (T)
· Fenby (T)
· Isaacson (T)
· Kalbriaer (T)
· St Bernard (T)
· Baggett (3C 2P)

Stourbridge
· Bressington (T 2P)
· Barkley (T)