Rugby round-up: Stourbridge fight back to secure opening day win

The Stourton Park outfit, reduced to 13 men for a period of the first half when two players were sin-binned, were staring down the barrel of defeat trailing 21-10 early in the second period of their Regional One Midlands opener in Shropshire.

But three unanswered scores in the closing stages turned things around and saw the visitors head home with a bonus point win.

Fin Hayward went over first to cut the deficit, with Mike Penn then scoring the try which put Stour in front.

Jess Smith extended the advantage to 27-21 with four minutes remaining and the home side could find no way back.

Dudley Kingswinford had an opening day to forget as they were beaten 38-15 at home by Lichfield.

Leo Davies and Thomas Walker both scored tries for the hosts but it was the newly-promoted visitors who dominated.

Walsall were left frustrated after falling to a 26-19 defeat at Melbourne in Regional Two North.

Toby Smith scored two tries for the visitors, who failed to take advantage of playing against 14 men for the whole of the second half after the home side had a man sent-off.

There was similar disappointment for Old Halesonians, beaten 30-12 at home by Malvern in their Regional Two West opener.

Burntwood fared better, making a winning start to their Counties One Midlands West (North) campaign with a 29-12 win over Tamworth. Stourbridge seconds were thumped 69-29 at home by Shrewsbury.

In Counties One Midlands West (South), Kidderminster ran in three tries at home to Evesham but still ended up comfortably beaten, with the visitors claiming a 36-19 win. 

David Ray, Jack Barrett and George Tildesley were the men who crossed for the hosts.

Stafford kicked off their 150th anniversary celebrations in style with a 52-19 win over Trentham in Counties Two Midlands West (West).

Debutant Jack Raine scored four of the home side’s eight tries as they blew the visitors away in a dominant second half.

Scores from Raine and captain Alex Rock gave Stafford a 14-5 advantage at the break and from there they accelerated through the gears. Jerry Qasenivalu got two tries, with Ollie Croft also on the mark in an impressive team performance.

Elsewhere, Willenhall survived a second half comeback to claim a thrilling 34-31 derby win at Wolverhampton. Adam Cooper starred for the visiting team, scoring a hat-trick of tries.

Rugeley recorded an emphatic 52-24 win in their derby at Cannock to begin the Counties Three Midlands West (North) season.

Eccleshall were 28-21 winners at home to Newport thirds, with Lichfield seconds beating Stone 39-18.

Newly-promoted Warley enjoyed an impressive start to life in Counties Three Midlands West (South) courtesy of a 36-17 win at home to Edwardians seconds, while Walsall seconds thumped Droitwich seconds 85-10.

Bloxwich caught the eye in Counties Four Midlands West (North) after opening their campaign with a 30-7 win over Burntwood seconds.

There was disappointment for Aldridge, who were overpowered by visitors Stoke seconds in a 48-19 defeat. 

Wednesbury went down 29-19 at Newcastle thirds, Essington were beaten 51-22 at home by Whitchurch seconds but there was joy for Stafford seconds, who were 33-0 winners at home to Trentham seconds.