Liam Wordley to start for Stourbridge

Experienced hooker Liam Wordley will be handed a place in the starting line-up for Stourbridge Saxons' West Midlands derby at Coventry on Saturday.

The former Blackheath and Cornish Pirates front row battler put in a starring role for Stour after coming off the bench during last week's narrow 22-19 defeat at the hands of National One new-boys Macclesfield.

That will be enough to secure a place in the side against a Coventry outfit still smarting from their relegation from the Championship last season.

Saxons' director of rugby Neil Mitchell said: "Liam Wordley was outstanding on Saturday.

"He has this languid look but there was a certain England number eight who looked like that - and I may start calling him Dean Richards.

"He has been a journeyman and has vast experience with Blackheath, Cornish Pirtates and Henley, not to mention England Counties whom he captained.

"He is self-confident and that works well with the players we have here."

Stourbridge were trailing 19-7 when Wolverhampton born and bred Wordley, plus scrum-half Louis Silver, took to the field, prompting a monumental fightback.

The Worcester Warriors youngster could also find himself in action at the Butts Park Arena.

Mitchell added: "Louis added a new dimension when he came on against Macclesfield.

"The pair of them made a real impact and a big difference."

The Saxons outscored Macclesfield by three tries to one at the weekend, back row James Rodley's second-half brace adding to a first-half offering from scrum-half Ollie Frost.

But the half-time deficit, due in part to having two players sin-binned, proved too much in the end.

Mitchell said: "I thought we were very harshly refereed. Had we not been so heavily penalised in the first half then who knows - we were penalised out of the game.

"It would have been good to start with a win but, overall, I was pleased. That was our first real test and anyone who watched the last 20 minutes will see the potential.

"We will get stronger and stronger, that could be key as many teams start well and fall off."

Elsewhere, Dudley Kingswinford will entertain Stratford this weekend fresh from an impressive 23-11 win at Worcester Wanderers in National One.

Chris Griffiths put the Sixways side in front, only for two Gareth Bown penalties and a Richard Kelly try to give DK a 11-5 half-time lead.

Second-half tries from Ben Coles and Jak Davies sealed the win, along with a Bown conversion, although Greg Fincher bagged two penalties for the Wanderers.