Walsall power to stunning late comeback win as Stafford run riot with 14 tries - round-up
Walsall served up a late treat as they powered to a dramatic comeback victory at Stoke.
Success in Stoke keeps Walsall among the high-flyers in Regional 2 Midlands North - though four winning points looked unlikely in the Potteries with less than 10 minutes remaining.
The hosts led 24-15 but two tries and a conversion in the final eight minutes secured maximum points, including the try bonus, for the third-placed visitors.
Max Brown scored a wonderful individual try with a speedy, skilful 25-yard dart for the line but there was later drama still as, with two minutes left, full-back Toby Smith collected his kick to score near the corner. Ben Pitt added the conversion to cap the brilliant turnaround.
Rhys Jones had earlier scored Walsall's first two tries.
Jack Teague scored two tries but Regional 1 Midlands Stourbridge side were unable to see out a commanding position as hosts Lichfield roared back late at Cooke Fields.
The visitors turned around an early deficit to lead 15-10 at the break with Teague and Dan Rundle having gone over.
Teague scored again and Fin Hayward added a fourth try for a 27-10 advantage - but from there Lichfield turned it around to secure a share of the spoils with three tries, one converted, enough to haul the scoreline back to 27-27.
Stourbridge, in third, lost ground on second-placed Newport (Salop). Lichfield are fifth.
Struggling Dudley Kingswinford were beaten 36-12 at home by Lutterworth.
William Hancox and Thomas Walker went over in the second half for second-bottom DK, but the mid-table visitors proved convincing winners.
Dan Clements scored a crucial converted try to haul Burntwood level at Aston Old Edwardians before Kian Carter's late penalty sealed a narrow 10-7 win in a tight Counties 1 West North contest.
Kidderminster won an entertaining Counties 1 West South clash 40-36 against Leamington.
Prolific scoring and kicking from the hosts saw Thomas Dalton and George Tildesley and Ryan Tiene go over. Zac Casey, with four, and Tildesley, kicked the points.
Stafford proved the great entertainers with an astonishing 14 tries in a rampant 86-7 home win over Newcastle II.
It was a record-equalling Blackberry Lane afternoon - 14 matches the best from a clash against Shrewsbury in February 2020, but the 92-5 scoreline that day keeps it in top spot.
The hosts led 35-7 by the interval thanks to Dan Watts' double and tries from Tom Berry, Jordan Robbins and Kayden Robinson, all added to by the accurate boot of Misa Veramu.
A ruthless first 15 minutes of the second period brought five more tires, including a Jack Raine hat-trick after Veramu's opener.
Stu Lewis scored the first of his two, with Joben Corcoran also going over with Raine and Veramu scoring again against the rock-bottom strugglers. Stafford are fifth after their surge.
Leaders Willenhall fired a shock blank in the first defeat of their previously unblemished campaign in Midlands 2 West.
A top-of-the-table clash went the way of Shropshire hosts Clee Hill 12-0.
In Counties 3 West North Eccleshall lost top spot with a 33-21 home reverse to Market Drayton. Mid-table Rugeley edged an away win at Lichfield II 20-19 and struggling Cannock collected a big 57-17 win over Newport III.
A Counties 4 West North Black Country derby with Bloxwich's visit of Wednesbury went the way of the hosts.
Successive early penalties from Sean Bottomer were crucial in the 31-8 win before Jack Hunt scored the first try. Jamie Parkes finished a neat team move for a second after the break and top try scorer Tez Greenwood completed a trio.
Fourth-bottom Aldridge picked up a crucial 38-29 win over Linley, who are one place beneath them.
