1st XV 41 - 19 Henley

Result:   Stourbridge 41 Henley 19
Half-Time:    Stourbridge22  Henley 0
Teams:
Stourbridge:
Jarvis, Bressington,  Billig, King (Pointon) Freeman, Petty, Richardson, Sturdy (Rowlands) Gerry (Olver) Tideswell , Hughes, Muldowney, White (Knight)  Abbott, Jenner..
Henley:
Simmons, Tom Burns, Loubser,  Luke Burns, Sweeney , Farndon, Grant (Guant) Fuller (Deren) Muggridge (Wordley) Le Chevalier  (Fuller) Winterbottom, Hurrell, Archer,  Payne, Hulland.
Scorers:
Stourbridge: - Tries : Hughes 2, Petty 2, King, Billig, Penalty try,  Con : Bressington 3.  Pen: 0
Henley : - Tries : Sweeney, Wordley, Archer, Con : Farndon 2. Pen : 0

Match Report.
Stourbridge duly produced the five point win required to keep their promotion hopes alive at Stourton Park on Saturday, running in seven tries to record a 41-19 defeat of Henley. The home side applied pressure straight from the kick off and after a couple of promising moves it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring on eleven minutes. Winger Martin Freeman caught a high ball inside his own half and set off on a trademark, elusive,  diagonal run, cutting deep into Henley territory to set up a strong attack. The move eventually saw Greg King burst through the defence; his chip kick was tipped skywards and over the Henley line and Ben Hughes won the race to ground the ball. Three minutes later an alert Rod Petty intercepted a pass on the half way line and outpaced the chasing defence to score under the posts.  Henley regrouped and for a ten minute period gained the upper hand, but they never really threatened the Stour line. However this was to be Henley’s only real spell of play in a half dominated by Stourbridge, who, on the half hour mark, once again cut the Henley defence to pieces to register their third try.
The score came following an excellent move of pace and slick interchange between Freeman and Petty, giving Petty his second try of the afternoon.  Stourbridge secured their bonus point  fourth try five minutes from the interval, when Jim Jenner broke from his own half and released centre Greg King. King cut through and outpaced the defence in a thirty metre run, making it to the try line just as he was brought down.
Stourbridge reached half time having dominated the game and built a 22-0 lead. Henley had found themselves in difficulties whenever Stourbridge ran from deep, having no answer to the pace of the backs, or the slick offloads seen in the Stourbridge attacks. The home side began the second half in a similar vein and within ten minutes of the restart had added two more tries to leave Henley staring at a possible landslide score.
Petty again intercepted in his own half but after making 30 metres he was hauled down, however he retained possession to begin a move leading to a break down the right wing, and a second try for Hughes. Three minutes later Henley failed to collect a high ball, allowing Billig to gain possession and complete a powerful 30 metre run to score wide on the right.
 Stourbridge now led 34-0 to leave the fans wondering just how big a win they were going to see.   Six seasons ago Henley had been responsible for Stourbridge’s record home and away defeats and the smell of revenge was now in the air. However, it was not to be, this was as good as the day got for Stourbridge as the visitors turned the tide and came back at them. For the last quarter of the game, with Stourbridge showing a number of tactical substitutions and reshuffles, Henley dominated, actually sharing the second half scoring at 19 points all. The home side added one further try when an unstoppable (legally) scrum saw the awarding of a record breaking fifth penalty try of the season. However, this was against the run of play, being sandwiched between two Henley tries.  The first came when a period of intense Henley pressure led to Sweeney barging over, the second when a smart three man move yielded a try for Wordley. The visitors continued to dominate and with the last move of the game, six minutes into injury time, Hulland charged down a kick to score Henley’s third try of the second half. 
The five point win was required to keep alive the Stourbridge promotion drive. However, later in the day, as other scores came in to the clubhouse, it became clear that their hopes hung by a slender thread. Bonus point wins for Otley and Manchester mean not only do Stourbridge need bonus point wins in both of their final two games; they also need one their rivals to falter badly. Manchester, who are sweeping all before them, need to lose one of their last two games, or Otley need to lose both of theirs. Unlikely scenarios, but games still have to be won, and both of their rivals have to travel for their final game of the season, so it is all to play for.