Rugby round-up: Walsall stay on promotion pace with eight-try win

The Delves Road outfit produced one of their finest performances of the season to blow away the visitors and close to within eight points of leaders Dronfield.

Callum Hoy opened and finished the scoring, with Luke Chambers, Kyle Reid, Dean Aigner and skipper Adam Nunney also going over as Walsall racked up their seventh straight bonus point victory.

Stourbridge’s promotion hopes in Regional One Midlands suffered a major blow after they were thrashed 53-7 at Banbury.

The Stourton Park outfit suffered their heaviest defeat as they failed to get going on a sticky pitch.

Four first half tries had the home side 29-0 up at the break and though Fin Hayward went over for Stour, early in the second half, Banbury remained in control, running in another four scores for an emphatic victory.

Stour are now down to sixth in the division, below Lichfield on points differential after the latter recovered from a tough start to record a resounding 47-27 win over Nuneaton.

Tries from Charles Smith and Tazudka Chawadya sent the visitors flying into an early 12-0 lead.

A penalty try and Ditch Burton score got Lichfield on the board but it was Nuneaton who remained in front until just before the break, when a trio of quickfire tries put the home side firmly in command.

Henry Nevitt, Tyler Moseley and Jack Hurst all scored in succession to turn a one-point deficit into an 18-point lead and from there Lichfield did not look back.

Dudley Kingswinford remain bottom but one after losing 45-12 at home to Bridgnorth.

There was happier news for Old Halesonians, who claimed just their third win of the season with a thrilling 37-36 triumph over Hereford at Wassell Grove.

Though they remain bottom of the Midlands West table, the gap to safety is down to 12 points.

Stourbridge Lions claimed a crucial win in their battle to beat the drop from Counties One Midlands West (North).

James Dallison and Olly Lynch both scored two tries each in a 45-28 victory over Tamworth which moved the Lions to within one-point of safety.

Kidderminster remain deep in trouble in the West (South) Division following a 33-25 home defeat to Alcester.

Willenhall continue to set a ferocious pace at the top of Counties Two West (West) following a 57-19 win at Longton, though the weekend was not so good for struggling Wolverhampton, who were beaten 24-17 at home to Luctonians Thirds.

Rugeley eased their relegation fears in Counties Three West (North) with an impressive 48-0 win away at Burton thirds, while Cannock drew a thriller 32-32 at home to Uttoxeter.

Bloxwich remain second in Counties Four West (North) following a 32-12 win at Linley but Wednesbury lost ground in the promotion race, as they were edged out 17-13 at Telford Hornets twos.

Stafford seconds are up to fifth in the standings after a thrilling 40-29 win at Essington.

Tries from Gregor Lennon and Marley Thomas gave the visitors a 14-5 half-time lead but it was the home side who fought back to lead heading into the final 10 minutes, before late scores from Stu Lewis and Colton McLaughlin eventually tipped the contest definitively in Stafford’s favour.