Rugby round-up: Stourbridge lose ground in Regional One Midlands title race
Stourbridge lost ground on their Regional One Midlands title rivals after falling to successive defeats with a 34-7 setback at Newent.
Lichfield romped to a 52-10 demolition of Drybrook, while strugglers Dudley Kingswinford succumbed to their fourth defeat in a row in a 36-12 home loss against Bromsgrove.
Early tries from Steven Leach and Benjamin Tibbets put Bromsgrove in the driving seat, before Harry Edwards reached the line to haul Dudley back into the contest before the break.
A penalty from Rhys Williams followed by quickfire tries by Williams Llewellyn and Woody Pugh after the break and another from William Parkes later in the second half put Bromsgrove out of sight.
Walsall suffered their first home defeat of the season after losing 25-10 against Dronfield in the Regional Two Midlands North, with Max Brown scoring the hosts' only try.
Rock bottom Old Halesonians suffered a narrow 15-10 home defeat against Sihillians in the Regional Two Midlands West.
In the Counties One Midlands West (North), Burntwood were beaten 32-13 by Veseyans and Stourbridge II suffered a 41-15 setback against Newcastle (Staffs).
Second from bottom Kidderminster were condemned to a 24-3 defeat at Earlsdon in the Counties One Midlands West (South).
Counties Two Midlands West (West) leaders Willenhall continued their 100 per cent start by making it seven wins on the spin with a 15-14 triumph over Trentham, and Wolverhampton were comfortably beaten 30-7 by Clee Hill.
Elsewhere, Stafford won 24-17 at Longton to climb into fourth thanks to tries from Alfie O'Brien, Morgan Cassells, Harry Baxter, Tom Barker and Jerry Qasenivalu.
Eccleshall remain top of the Counties Three Midlands West (North) following a 49-3 success at Cannock, while fourth-place Lichfield II eased to a 49-0 victory at St Leonards.
Stone condemned rock bottom Burton III to a 58-8 drubbing to climb into sixth and Rugeley slipped to a 36-22 defeat in Oswestry.
Second-place Handsworth continued their strong form this season with a 36-20 victory over Veseyans II in the Counties Three Midlands West (East) thanks largely to a hat-trick of tries by Terry Clarke.
Walsall II sit third in the Counties Three Midlands West (South) after beating Evesham II 66-15 and Dudley Kingswinford II lost 36-19 at Woodrush.
In the Counties Midlands West (North), Essington and Aldridge served up an entertaining 31-31 draw and third-place Bloxwich lost 20-13 at home to league leaders Whitchurch II.
A penalty by Sean Bottomer and a try from Neil Birt gave Bloxwich a 10-7 lead at half-time, but Whitchurch rallied after the break to seal maximum points.
Wednesbury remain fourth courtesy of a 31-21 win at Linley, although Burntwood II kept the gap to just two points after cruising to a 48-0 victory at Telford Hornets II.
Adam Evans scored a hat-trick of tries for Burntwood before a double from Tyler Gillies put them on course for a comfortable win. Harry Heath, Kyle Westwood and Tom Dawson also got in on the act to complete the rout.
Stourport emerged 22-17 victors at Chaddersley Corbett and Kidderminster Carolians II were awarded a home walkover in their bottom of the table clash against Stourbridge III in the Counties Four Midlands West (South).
Third from bottom Old Halesonians missed the chance to climb the table after losing 34-6 at Kings Norton.
