STOURBRIDGE Rugby Club suffered promotion heartache for the second year running after missing out on a play-off place on points differential.

The Stourton Park outfit went into this weekend's final league fixtures with all options still open to them. They could still win the National League Two North, claim second spot and a play-off place, or finish the campaign empty handed.

Unfortunately, it proved to be the latter after Darlington's 28-24 victory over Macclesfield in a first versus second head-to-head showdown.

Despite Stour doing all they could by beating Harrogate 41-19 away from home, the other game's high try count left them with third place. In the end, Macclesfield claimed the title by just one point from Darlington, who in turn were ahead of Stour by a points differential of 20 after both finishing the season level on 131 points overall.