STOURBRIDGE director of rugby Neil Mitchell says it's time for his side to start winning ugly if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.

Mitchell's attention has now turned to the bottom end of the table after last Saturday's 24-12 home defeat to Huddersfield left them just seven points off the drop zone.

He said: "It was a must win game for us and the defeat has totally changed our direction.

"Our aspirations of a new year resurgence to push us towards the top four are now over. It is all about finishing above the bottom three and retaining our status in this league.

"We need to reset ourselves and start to play basic rugby. The players need to accept they can't do some of the things they were trying last season.

We need to win ugly because the whole dynamics of our season has changed."

Stour have been dealt a further blow with the news that head coach and fly half Jon Higgins will be out for the season and may have to retire after suffering a patella tendon injury against Huddersfield. He is set to undergo surgery this week.

Another player that may have to go under the knife due to injury is prop Kyle Garner.

Mitchell said he could turn to agencies to find the players he needs to bolster his squad at Stourton Park, even though it may mean an extra cost to the club.

"It has been a unique season in terms of the amount of injuries we have suffered," he added. "That is still ongoing and continues to affect our performances and ability to train properly.

"I am now actively looking around to get more bodies in. I will turn to agencies to find the right people if necessary because we must not go down."

Stour will travel to take on fifth placed Caldy this Saturday as they look to halt a run of three successive defeats.