BARRING mathematical miracles Stourbridge secured National Two rugby for next season with a bonus point win away at Preston Grasshoppers.

A workmanlike performance at Lightfoot Green last Saturday saw them bag a 28-18 victory.

Two yellow cards meant they played the final quarter with only 14 men, but Nigel Mukarati’s early second half try had secured a three-score lead that they defended grimly, Preston only breaching the defences with the final whistle imminent.

Stour were tuned over in contact early on, Preston fullback Mark Murray brought down just short of the Stour 22. A knock-on gifted the hosts a short range attacking scrum, but the Stour pack got a nudge on so Preston looked to drive up midfield. They didn’t commit enough bodies to the breakdown though, Ben Barkley securing a turnover from which Stour countered and an excellent kick chase secured a short range penalty. Caolan Ryan kicked to the corner, Ciaran Moore drove off the maul and Barkley barged his way over with an assist from the post padding.

Stour shipped a couple of penalties in the tackle area, Preston kicking for position but good work by Ben Hughes turned over their lineout and Ryan hoofed clear. Preston ran it back but spilt the ball in contact, and with a 2-man overlap the ball was worked to Stef Shillingford who reached halfway before drawing the last defender to put Nathan Bressington clear to score in the corner. Ryan landed a difficult conversion.

Outside half Lewis Allen pulled back three points when a further tackle area indiscretion drew a lecture from referee Michael Harris and a tactical switch as Jordan Page replaced Dale Garner.

A neat Ryan offload put Shillingford through a gap, his cross-kick shepherded into touch by the defenders. Stour went for a catch and drive but Mukarati couldn’t ground it so Drew Harper drove from the base of the scrum to draw three defenders, Ciaran Moore crashing over in the follow-up.

Stour briefly lost focus with a rash of wayward passes, eventually conceding a lineout in their own half. Preston moved it down the backline where some indifferent tackle attempts resulted in a try for wing Sam Kendall. Preston conceded a late penalty in kicking range but Ryan pushed his attempt wide as the half ended 21-10 to Stour.

A Preston clearance kick in the second period failed to find touch and Stour came again, Barkley carving a hole in the defensive line to be pulled down just short, Mukarati in support for the quick pick and drive that secured the bonus point try.

Allen quickly pulled back three points though from a penalty. Preston rumbled a maul to just short of the Stour line and launched a wave of attacks that the disciplined defence just managed to hold out. Preston wouldn’t lie down though and a line break by centre Bill Woof reached the shadow of the Stour posts where Dipple was yellow carded for not releasing in the tackle.

Stour’s defences again repelled a lengthy siege before Preston launched a driving maul that was pulled down at the expense of a yellow card for Jack Spencer. A further prolonged assault on the Stour line proved fruitless or the hosts, but finally they attacked from deep, and with Robbie Hurrell down injured Stour’s 13 defenders were outflanked, Allen taking a late scoring pass on the Stour 22.

With a break this Saturday, Stour host league leaders Hull Ionians on April 11.

Stour will be looking to avenge the 50 point drubbing they took at Brantingham Park earlier this season, they can draw inspiration from the thrilling victory they secured when Ionians last visited in a November 2012 top of the table clash.