Southend RFC 23 Stourbridge RFC 24

Stourbridge can put their feet up this weekend safe in the knowledge they won't be facing the drop this season.

Stourbridge can put their feet up this weekend safe in the knowledge they won't be facing the drop this season.

A weekend 24-23 victory at Southend, featuring a hat-trick of tries from full-back Ally Bressington, made sure that the Stourton Park club won't be relegated this season. With winnable home games to come, plus a trip to doomed Waterloo, Stour can rest easy after this victory.nextpage

Stourbridge were in control of the match until the last 10 minutes after a valiant effort from the second-from-bottom side. Ultimately, Stour withstood a late charge from Southend, to the relief of boss Neil Mitchell.nextpage

"They threw everything at us, ran everything but we knew they would come at us because of the position they are in," said the director of rugby. "They had nothing to lose and they played it like a Barbarians game, which leaves them vulnerable. We now need nine points from our last six games to guarantee staying up - and that is if Westcombe Park take five points from every one of their final six games."nextpage

Scrum-half Tom Richardson was Stour's other try scorer while Bressington added two conversions.nextpage

Southend, who trailed 19-10 at half-time, scored tries from South African centre Maso Bowles and fly-half Jake Sharp, with full-back Andy Frost converting both and adding three penalties at Warners Bridge Park.