1st XV 15 - 35 Sedgley Park
| Match date | Saturday September 12, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Match time | 14:30 |
| Match location | Away |
| Team | 1st XV |
| Opponent | Sedgley Park |
Sedgley Park v Stourbridge by Paul Smith
It is rare for a rugby match with a 20 point winning margin to have a single pivotal moment; more often the outcome is determined by a combination of factors across the 80 minutes.
Stourbridge’s first trip to Park Lane since 2003 should therefore be viewed as a collector’s item, not only was the match result heavily influenced by one event, but it took place an hour before the kick off.
Ben Barkley, who along with centre-partner Adam Billig was so influential in the opening day triumph over Blackheath, damaged a hamstring in the warm-up, and was unable to take the number 12 shirt.
As Billig had not recovered from injury sustained in the victory over “the Club,” Stour fielded a new centre combination. Marc Marren and Alex White, along with rookie wingers Ali Hunter-Blair and Duncan Chance also formed one of the club’s most inexperienced back lines, all four having arrived at Stourton Park from local junior clubs this summer.
The impact of the hasty reorganization was substantial. Against Blackheath Stour’s backs threatened throughout, Barkley and Billig battered their way over the gain line, and produced some dextrous offloads that gave space and opportunity to the pacy back three. They also presented a solid defensive unit.
Unfortunately for Neil Mitchell’s men, Sedgley’s experienced campaigners had more than enough nous to exploit the lack of midfield cohesion in the opposition ranks. Former Manchester fly half Richard Wainwright varied his options cleverly, while centre Phil Hughes, full back Steve Nutt and winger Lisi Tafa all looked dangerous runners.
The home backs created five excellent tries, all from long range, several of which resulted directly from breaches of the defensive line. Although Stour’s forwards managed three scores of their own, Sedgley just about maintained control of a game that was tighter than the score suggests.
Stour opted for a tight, forward-based approach in the early stages, and with intelligent prompting from scrum half Tom Richardson, the forwards executed the plan superbly.
Ben Gerry was on the mark after only two minutes, at the bottom of a well-orchestrated driving maul from a close range line-out.
Park responded immediately, centre Hughes going over in the corner after they had taken the ball through a number of well-controlled phases.
Stour should have gone back in front after ten minutes. Richardson started a counter-attack with turnover ball in his own 22, his vision found space behind the home defence, but the flying Chance was unable to touch down his own fly hack after a 70 metre chase.
However, another try did soon arrive courtesy of Duncan White, who enjoyed a prominent first half, prior to limping off shortly after the break. The number eight was the beneficiary when Stour reprised the line-out catch and drive routine.
After Jon Higgins missed from 40 metres, a jinking 50 metre Nutt break sent hooker Richard Oxley over unopposed. The former Moseley and Fylde full back then added a brace of penalties prior to half time as Stour transgressed on the ground.
Poor tackling and defensive alignment cost the visitors two further scores in the third quarter, to put the home side out of reach. First Jones threw an outrageous dummy to wrongfoot the whole defence, before a slashing break by Wainwright left Tongan winger Tafa with an easy run in.
Stour’s forwards bossed the game’s final quarter much as they had its first. Captain Ben Hughes, who enjoyed an outstanding game in the loose, was rewarded with his third try of the campaign, when he forced his way over after a series of close-range pick and drives.
Another Stour score would have given the sun-drenched crowd a tight finish, but the home line remained intact in the face of considerable pressure, and with the assistance of an overly-tolerant referee.
Another long-range home effort, finished by winger Matt Riley, gave the final score an unfair slant deep in stoppage time. Nutt converted, to finish with ten points from the boot, in pointed contrast to Stour, who missed all four kicks at goal.
