Stourbridge 19, South Leicester 13

STOURBRIDGE got their season off to a winning start with a battling performance against South Leicester.

The boot of debutant fly half Luke White handed the hosts a solid platform at a blustery Stourton Park before a fine second half try from replacement Derryn Jones sealed victory.

However, it was Stour's ability in defence to repel a resilient South Leicester side that will have most pleased director of rugby Neil Mitchell.

The clash started with the home side on the front foot with the wind at their backs.

An early infringement saw White slot his first penalty after just three minutes.

Though it was the visitors that were enjoying slightly more possession in the first period, it was Stour that made theirs count.

Moves forward brought more infringements and more chances for White to set his sights.

He again fired over on 17 minutes to keep Leicester pegged back.

The first real test for the home rearguard came on 30 minutes when a catch and drive just short of the Stour line had the defence with work to do.

But they did it well and soon held up their opponents and were able to clear their lines.

White then landed two more penalty kicks, the second right on half time after Stour had put the power on in the scrum, to hand his side a 12-0 lead at the break.

South Leicester, now with the wind in their favour, wasted no time in getting themselves firmly back in the contest.

Their chance, however, came as Stour attacked.

The hosts began throwing the ball around looking to find a way around their opponents until Gareth Clarke pounced to intercept a lofted pass and had the simple task of running the ball under the posts unopposed before Richie Aley added the extras.

When Aley fired over two more penalties from distance, the visitors were suddenly ahead on the hour mark.

It soon got worse for Stour when Joseph Bridger saw yellow for a late hit on a Leicester man as he rose to collect the ball from kick off.

But, despite surrendering the lead and then finding themselves a man down, Mitchell's men put together the move of the match that was ultimately to prove the difference.

They kept the ball alive in the Leicester 22 and suddenly began chalking up the phases.

After first stretching their opponents out to the left flank the ball was quickly worked inside to Jones who powered over despite the presence of two scrambling defenders.

That took the score to 19-13 and all that was left to do for Stour was see out the last ten minutes.

They had to whether a late South Leicester push for victory but again did it well to highlight their early-season defensive capabilities and make sure they have quickly got up and running this term.

Stourbridge: Petty, Elvers, Heatley, Otutaha, Bridger, White, Easton, George, Lea, Thorne, Depper, Murphy, Mukarati, Harding, Moore.

Replacements: Harrison, Wilkes, Jones, Tibbetts, Nicholls.

South Leicester: Gunn, Howe, Hough, Cave, Clarke, Aley, Shaw, Warren, Ager, Holford, Cheney, Ward, Cairns, Mclaurin, Turner.

Replacements: Gibbs, Murray, Johnson, Bean, Wolfenden.

Att: 240