1st XV 27 - 12 Nuneaton

Player of the Match - Sebastian Pearson

Stourbridge 27 Nuneaton 12  by Paul Smith 

Three outstanding individual performances gave Stourbridge their first win of 2010, and re-established clear water between the club and National 1’s drop zone. 

On his return from Newbury, full back Matt Williams gave a composed performance, highlighted by some fine kicking and powerful thrusts into the line. Talented fly half Sam Robinson also put in his most effective shift of the season, displaying some sublime creative touches. 

But it was Canadian powerhouse no. 8 Seb Pearson that really caught the eye. He handled reliably, and regularly broke tackles in attack, while he defended solidly and provided Stour’s only bright spot in the line out. 

These fine individual performances delivered the day’s main priority - a five point win - but also masked areas, notably the line out and scrum, where the home side lacked consistency. 

However, with Williams and the razor-sharp Charlie Fellows in the backline, when Stour’s front eight resume their normal authoritative service, the Stourton Park faithful are in for a treat. 

By contrast, it is difficult to see any way back for the enormously likeable Mike Umaga’s Nuns, for whom a third relegation in five seasons looks inevitable.  

Their pack battled hard, but with little cutting edge behind, there was too little end product. In their defence, the rub of the green did not favour Nuns, but not so much as to affect the outcome of the match. 

Nuns skipper Huw Thomas missed an early long-range shot at goal, before an Ali Bressington penalty opened the scoring, after Nuns were penalised three times in quick succession in their own 22. 

Doubtless keen to eradicate Esher from the memory banks, Stour looked anxious in the opening quarter. Good positions were wasted through lack of composure, and over-ambition, meaning the first try took 17 minutes to arrive. 

Worcester Warrior Fellows was driven over by the pack from close range, to join Mark Evans, Kurt Johnson and Simon Frewin, as 2009/10 try scoring loan debutants.  

Nuns had two periods of sustained pressure before half time, both of which resulted in former Stourbridge and Coventry lock Matt Aston touching down.  

Luckily for Stour, Mr Kitt failed to see either of them, although less fortunately touch judge Mr Challinor did spot the second, and after a prolonged pregnant pause and several Gallic shrugs the officials finally agreed to award the score! 

Aston’s efforts were separated by Nuns’ flanker Ben Avent’s sin binning, for persistent infringement, and a converted home try, when Robinson gathered his own chip behind the visitors’ posts. 

A couple of rampaging Pearson runs, and a thumping Ben Barkley tackle provided the highlights of a low key third quarter, before Stour’s best period of continuity produced their third try. 

A driving line out and several forward thrusts resulted in Robinson placing a perfect cross kick behind the Nuns backs, where Williams celebrated his return with the easiest of touchdowns. 

This took the lead to 15 points, and sealed the win, and appropriately it was Pearson who then banked the bonus point when he broke two tackles and stormed over in the right corner from 30 metres. 

Visiting winger Sean Denning had the last word, dribbling past the home defence, before exploiting a favourable bounce to scorch in from half way on the final whistle. 

By then, home thoughts had turned to the first of two long journeys to the north east, where in form Tynedale, fresh from wins over Launceston and Cambridge, await. 

Stourbridge: Williams; Bressington (Richards, 60), Billig, Barkley, Fellows; Robinson, Richardson; Sturdy (Griffiths, 65), Gerry (Collins, 77), Homer; Dean (Baker, 51), Hughes; Rodley (Keylock, 77), R.Cooper, Pearson. 
Nuneaton: Moore; Cave, Taylor (Roy-Smith, 51), Douglas, Denning; Poulton, Thomas; Taylor, Coltman (Bray, 51), McDonald (Ryan, 64); Hurst (Griffiths, 58), Aston; Avent, Critchley, Daish (Smith, 67). 
Referee – Rowan Kitt 
Scorers & Times:  
Stourbridge –
Tries – Fellows (17), Robinson (29), Williams (56), Pearson (74)
Cons – Bressington (29), Robinson (74)
Pens – Bressington (6) 

Nuneaton –  
Tries – Aston (37), Denning (80)
Cons – Thomas (80)
Pens –  

More photos here

The Match in Pictures