1st XV 84 - 0 Manchester

Player of the Match - Harry Collins

Manchester 0 Stourbridge Saxons 84                        By Geoff Berkeley

Alistair Bressington grabbed the third hat trick of his career, to lead Stourbridge to a morale boosting, 14 try win against woeful Manchester.

Bressington’s welcome return to form produced 29 points, only two short of his own club record, while he also logged his 50^th try and 1,000^th point in National League rugby.

Canadian no. 8 Seb Pearson completed his first English hat trick, and there was a double for Charlie Fellows, as Stour completed a professional job against opponents who competed gamely, but were outclassed, outmuscled and outperformed in every facet of the game.

After a dismal run of weather, injuries and form, the Saxons now enter next week’s crucial match with Cinderford with restored confidence, not to mention three additional clubs between themselves and the relegation zone.

Unexpected wins for Otley and Nuneaton tempers things slightly. But since tenth placed Stour are now surrounded by five clubs they must face again this season, and with the group separated by only six points, Neil Mitchell’s men hold their destiny firmly in their own hands.

Stour found gaping holes in the Manchester defence as early as the third minute, when winger Charles Fellows ran 30 yards before touching down in the corner.

And in a repeat of the October match at Stourton Park, Stour secured the four try bonus point before the end of the opening quarter, thanks to opening salvoes from Bressington and Pearson, and a second try in consecutive weeks for another man of the maple leaf, Ollie Atkinson.

Centre Ben Barkley, who created Atkinson’s score, got in on the act with a try of his own, before veteran prop Adam Sturdy forced his way over for his second try of the season.

Minutes later captain and leading try scorer Ben Hughes added the next, before Fellows scored the eighth of the half, to give the visitors a 46-0 interval lead.

After Bressington and Pearson collected their second scores, soon after the restart, a 12 minute scoreless period spared Manchester from the indignity of the fourth century of their ill-fated campaign.

However, their respite was only temporary, as substitute Chris Tennuci soon slid over, before Pearson and Bressington completed their hat tricks.

Replacement Ryan Watkins then rounded off the afternoon with his first try since 2005/6. This doubtless sent club historian Vernon Davies scurrying to his record books, as have many National 1 statisticians this year, thanks to Manchester’s desperate plight.

The Grove Park club’s 54 players have to date managed eight tries between them; many around the rugby community will hope that this famous old club is able to halt the slide next season in National 2 north, and that better times lie ahead.

Manchester:  15. Andrew Taylor (Cergio McCabe 51), 14. David Moore, 13. David Lewis, 12. Richard Hoprinson (Robert Kyei 22), 11. Myles Hall, 10. Danny Charlton, 9. Matthew Bradley, 1. Jeffrey Craine (Paul Farrington 70), 2. Jamie Gould, 3 Stephen Prest., 4. Michael Fitton-Walker, 5. George Antoniades (Kyriacos Vatikiotis 55), 6. Danny Booth, 7. Zak Hammond, 8. Jonathan Doney.

Stourbridge:  15. Alistair Bressington, 14. Alistair Hunter Blair (Chris Tennuci H/T), 13. Matthew Williams, 12. Ben Barkley, 11. Charles Fellows (Ryan Watkins 53), 10. Sam Robinson, 9. Jon Higgins, 1. Adam Sturdy, 2. Harry Collins (Thomas Charley 74), 3. Jonathan Baker (Jonathan Vickers 53), 4. Oliver Atkinson, 5. Simon Homer, 6. Ben Hughes (James Rodley 49), 7. Rupert Cooper, 8. Sebastian Pearson.

Scorers  Tries: Fellows (3, 38), Pearson (5, 47, 69), Bressington (11, 42, 72), Atkinson (15), Barkley (22), Sturdy (28), Hughes (32), Tennuci (60), Watkins (74)

Conversions: Bressington (6, 23, 29, 48, 70, 73, 75)

Referee: R. Phillips