Stourbridge 55 Dudley Kingswinford 0

by Nick Pullen

STOUR duly despatched Dudley Kingswinford as the formbook would have suggested - the only surprise being the fact they didn't win by a much wider margin.

The DK's were staring another heavy defeat in the face as they trailed 55-0 after 53 minutes.

Remarkably, there was no further scoring from that point as the final 27 minutes or so appeared to pass most people by in a bumper sized Stourton Park crowd.

Stourbridge set their stall out from the word go, by opting to run the ball at every opportunity and the ploy soon worked when right wing Nathan Bressington burst through some questionable tackling to score the first try on seven minutes.

More slick passing presented former DK's favourite Stefan Shillingford  with the chance to score a second try before fly half Gary Dipple added a third on 19 minutes, which left wing Jamie Hearn converted.

Stour bagged the all-important bonus point try right on the half hour when full back Tom Jarvis burst into the line, where his pace took him past DK's cover.

Matters only worsened for DK's at this stage when flanker Joel Barrett was yellow carded on 32 minutes and Stour instantly took advantage by scoring a fifth try with the very next move as second row Niles Dacres stampeded over, Hearn adding the extras to make it 29-0.

The torment continued for DK's as Bressington then breezed over to complete his hat-trick of tries, for the second week running, both by virtue of some lovely offloading.

Hearn improved one of the tries to make it 41-0 by half time and the crowd sat back waiting for the floodgates to open in the second half.

Play began in predictable fashion with loose head prop Mark George being driven over for a couple of tries by his pack, with Hearn converting both.

But that was it! Everyone was expecting Stour to turn the screw further, yet nothing happened.

The DK's showed plenty of resilience, while never really threatening Stour's line.

They will need much more of that in the second half of the season, although survival already looks a tall order as they remain marooned at the bottom of National League Division 2 North with 16 straight defeats to their name.

Stour stay firmly entrenched in the title chase. their destiny is more likely to be decided with trips to Macclesfield and Sedgeley Park, plus the visit of Darlington Mowden Park which without doubt will prove defining games.

Stour: Jarvis; Bressington, Shillingford, Barkley, Hearn; Dipple, white; George, Page Hill; Dacres, Hurrell; Mukarati, Uzoigwe, Depper. Reps: Cooksammy, Hill, Garner, Tuipulotu, Sturdy.

DKs: Ben Brown; Jefferson, Bown, Marshall, Smitherman; Pinches, Jones; Humphreys, Greednwood, Shakespeare; Parry, perks; Barrett, Pedley, Hawkins. Reps: Hickman, Morrissey, Chivers, Tompkins, Josh Brown.

 

Referee: Guy Steele-Bodger

Attendance: 715

Man of the match: Gary Dipple (Stour)