National League Division 2 North: Stourbridge 21, Leicester Lions 18

STOUR did their promotion prospects a power of good by pulling off a prized victory over fourth placed Leicester Lions to maintain their unbeaten home record this season.

The victory also provided Stour with some sweet revenge having lost to 14 men Lions earlier in the campaign.

Stour made a flying start by scoring inside two minutes.

Winger Josh Trinham made a telling break after Stour won some quick scrummage ball, which was then recycled for No.8 Ciaran Moore to charge over for a well taken try but full back Luke White hit the post with his conversion attempt.

The lead was short-lived. Lions set up a catch and drive following a ninth minute line-out which saw hooker Ollie Taylor driven over and fly half Jon Boden duly converted.

Boden stretched Lions' lead to 10-5 with a penalty before Stour struck back.

Lions were reduced to 14 men when flanker John Murdoch was yellow carded for tackling off the ground and Stour soon took advantage when well won scrummage ball was flung wide for Coventry loanee winger Dan Rundle to trundle over in the corner.

White landed a spectacular touchline conversion and then kicked a penalty on the stroke of half time to Stour 15-10 in front at the break.

Lions soon narrowed the gap when Boden slotted over a penalty after Stour fly half Chris Scott was sent to the sin bin.

But despite being a man down, Stour defended doggedly and then the accurate White kicked them in the clear at 21-13 with two more well struck penalties.

Lions threw everything at Stour in the closing stages but the home defence held firm until the final move of the match when replacement winger Kane Nixon notched his side a bonus point by scoring a try wide out on the overlap.

Delighted Stour director of rugby Neil Mitchell said: "I always thought it would be a tough, tight game but the result has now put us in a promising position.

"There's still a third of the season to go but we've now taken 28 out of a possible 30 in our last six games and this result has now given us a bit of breathing space."

Mitchell also singled out the performance of his England Counties tight head prop Mark George and said: "It was one of his best ever games for us and he was essential to this victory.

"Many people don't see all the hard work that he puts in on the dark side and I thought his display was outstanding!

Stour: White; Rundle, Hollis, Otutaha, Trinham (Petty 60); Scott, Heatley; Harrison ( Thorp 71), Lea (Wilkes 45), George (Thorne 71 ); Depper, Mather; Mukarati, Harding, Moore. Not used: Munro.