1st XV 22 - 20 Redruth
| Match date | Saturday November 14, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Match time | 15:00 |
| Match location | Home |
| Team | 1st XV |
| Opponent | Redruth |
Player of the Match - Tom Richardson
Stourbridge 22 Redruth 20 by Paul Smith
In front of watching England Counties’ selector Michael Old, scrum half Tom Richardson capped an outstanding individual performance with a match clinching try 15 minutes from time.
The head injury Richardson sustained in the act of scoring needed lengthy treatment. He played the last quarter hour largely on autopilot, but Old will have noted that even in a dazed state, Stour’s number 9 is well served by instinct.
In similarly tight finishes at Cinderford and Nuneaton, Stour’s decision-making was not of the highest order. Against Redruth it was largely sound, allowing a good sized home crowd a comfortable finale, despite the narrowness of the winning margin.
Stourbridge’s fifth win in six games lifted them above their opponents, into the top half of National 1 for the first time this season. Assuming next weekend’s break does not interrupt the momentum, their current form will present high flying London Scottish with a tough challenge in a fortnight’s time.
Redruth dominated the game’s opening spell, twice creating huge overlaps. From the second of these Kiwi no. 8 Mark Bright strolled over for a converted score.
Bright, a highly influential figure in the Cornish side, produced a fine performance. Indeed, both his rugby skills and Duran Duran hairstyle doubtless struck a chord with former Stour captain Jon Collins, and his reunited 1982/3 “invincibles,” who were watching from the stand.
Against the run of play, the home side hit back immediately. Kurt Johnson gathered Richardson’s box kick, and his inside pass allowed Ben Barkley to go in for his fourth try of the season.
On a windy day, both side’s kickers found life difficult. Richardson’s only major blemish came when his conversion hit the post from point-blank range.
And with the visitors’ missing the injured Mark Scrivener, a 70% plus kicker, Brett Rule also missed a couple of eminently kickable chances before the interval after an early success.
Stour took the ball through a number of phases for the first time midway through the half, and a superb pass from Sam Robinson allowed former full back Craig Richards to squeeze in the corner.
The Reds were soon back in front, however, as Johnson allowed the prolific Lewis Vinnicombe too much space from a five metre scrum, and he duly completed his ninth try of the season.
But an entertaining half finished level when home hooker Ben Gerry was driven over from Stour’s speciality close range lineout.
Stour regularly incurred the wrath of referee John Meredith in the first half, with captain Ben Hughes twice being warned. When Meredith adjudged Stour to have again infringed soon after the interval, his chosen fall guy, Johnson, was duly sin binned.
Redruth scrum half Nick Simmons immediately exploited the available space on the left wing, to send centre Craig Bonds over in the corner from a close range scrum.
Once restored to a full complement, Stour’s forwards seized control of the final quarter, with Seb Pearson and James Rodley especially prominent. The tight five also put in a solid shift against highly rated opponents, while debutant Coventry loan centre Drew Locke caught the eye for more than his flowing locks!
Sam Robinson kept his concentration during the five minute injury stoppage that followed Richardson’s try, and his well struck conversion put Stourbridge ahead for the first time.
A couple of handling errors prevented Stour finishing in style, meaning Hughes’ men needed to retain both composure and shape to ensure the five points were safely banked.
Some solid defence and good decision making duly finished the job, leaving the Stourton faithful to ponder whether Tom Richardson or members of the 1982/3 invincibles will have woken up with the biggest headache on Sunday morning.
Match photos by Richie Laurent at http://www.flickr.com/photos/photorich/sets/72157622681957085/
Teams:
Stourbridge – Richards; T.Hughes, Locke, Barkley, Johnson; Robinson, Richardson; Sturdy, Gerry, Lawrence (Baker, 53); B.Hughes, Homer; Cooper, Rodley, Pearson.
Reps – Keylock, Chance, Harrop, Taylor.
Redruth – Thirlby; Vinnicombe, Bonds (Semmens, 79), Stupple, Pedley; Rule, Simmons; Jacques, Hambly, Heard (Joyce, 34); Labuschange (Carroll, 45), Cook (Pascoe, 77); Evans, Calder (Fuca, 79), Bright.
Reps –
Referee – John Meredith
Half Time – 15-15
Scorers:
Stourbridge: Tries: Barkley (6), Richards (24), Gerry (39), Richardson (65) Cons – Robinson (66)
Redruth: Tries – Bright (3), Vinnicombe (29), Bonds (51) Cons – Rule (4) Pens – Rule (8)
