Luctonians 32 (5T), Stourbridge 49 (6T)

STOURBRIDGE RFC got the better of an entertaining contest of running rugby against Luctonians.

Both sets of threequarters helping themselves to 5 tries, but the contest was decided by the pinpoint-accurate goalkicking of Stour outside-half Luke White.

Lucs scored first but by halftime White had slotted all six of his kicks at goal and Stour had raced to a 30-13 lead.

The hosts kept finding holes in Stour’s wide defences though and had a losing bonus point in their sights before centre Joe Heatley’s second try settled matters at the end.

Lucs’ first attack saw Stour’s wide defences caught flat, a missed tackle gifting a try to winger Joe Doyle.

A penalty for offside at the restart gave White his first points, he followed this up with a successful 45m effort after a tackle offence but Lucs goalkicker Louis Silver pulled the lead back when a teammate was tackled off the ball.

Stour’s first opportunity to run the ball found them making big inroads into Lucs’ line defence.

The ball was worked left where fullback Rod Petty’s delayed pass put winger Joe Bridger into enough space to score in the corner.

Both sides continued to throw the ball around but with their goalkicker outgunned Lucs unsuccessfully opted to kick penalties to the corner.

Stour drove back downfield, White’s quick tap setting up an attack in Lucs’ 22 where a penalty for a high tackle gave him another 3pts.

Heatley found space in his own half, putting winger George Tildesley through on a switch move.

He was pulled down but the ball was worked to supporting flanker Billy Harding whose sidestep was rewarded with a try in the corner. Lucs weren’t lying down though, winger Will Hodnett’s outleaping Bridger to secure outside half Tom Jones’ cross-kick and score unchallenged.

With halftime looming Harding collected a dropped pass and countered, Tildesley’s pass putting Heatley through.

He was pulled down short but the loose ball was gathered by supporting scrum half BenTibbetts who scored. Halftime 13-30.

Lucs were straight out of the blocks 2nd half, a neat inside step by Jones putting him clean through. Stour hit back from the restart, Silva’s clearance fielded by Stour no.8 Ciaran Moore who set off crossfield to find Heatley, his angled run wrongfooting the kick chase.

Tildesley accelerated onto his pass and blasted round the cover to score. Heatley then turned on the afterburners to scorch round a Lucs 1st phase defensive line struggling to identify the point of attack. The cover failed to deal with his kick ahead, the ball bounced loose and he pounced to score.

Lucs again set siege to Stour’s line and were rewarded when winger Charlie Grimes was worked clear to score in the corner. Stour’s defences contained their further attacks until a worked move saw Doyle come in to the line to create an overlap and second try for Hodnett.

Stour’s pack had gained the upper hand and drove Lucs off their own scrum feed near halfway.

Moore picked up and broke through, his pass finding Heatley who crossed wide left to score his 2nd try. White finally missed a kick at goal, undeterred he lined up a penalty attempt of over 50m at the death, but it fell just short.

This Sat (September 17) Stour host Sheffield Tigers, the following week (September 24) they are again at Stourton Park facing Scunthorpe.