Round-up: Stour promotion hopes hit hard by home defeat
Stourbridge saw their promotion hopes dealt a major blow after they were edged out by Bromsgrove in a high-scoring thriller.
The Worcestershire visitors held off a late comeback attempt from the hosts to secure a 38-34 win at Stourton Park in Regional One Midlands.
In a match which saw several drastic swings of momentum, Stour found themselves 11-0 down due to Rhys Williams’s early score, before reeling off 21 straight points.
Bromsgrove then hit back to score the next 17 points, with Ellis Jenkins going over for the try which ultimately proved the difference between the sides, midway through the second half.
Stour claimed two bonus points from the contest but are now 12 points behind second-placed Newport with just five matches to play.
Lichfield are a point further back after losing 31-24 away at Bridgnorth, while Dudley Kingswinford’s disappointing season continued with a heavy 62-26 defeat away at leaders Bournville.
Walsall remain in the hunt in Regional Two North after a thrilling 27-25 win at Sutton Coldfield.
Home kicker Matt Smith missed the chance to earn his team a draw when he sent a conversion attempt wide with the final action of the match.
Pete Fitzgerald had earlier opened the scoring for Walsall, who led at half-time thanks to the boot of skipper Adam Nunney.
Further tries from Fitzgerald and Max Hughes then appeared to have put the visitors in control but Sutton Coldfield hit back with scores from Luke Smith and Ben Richards in the final 10 minutes to set up the dramatic conclusion.
Old Halesonians remain bottom of Regional Two West after losing 40-25 at Shipston-on-Stour.
There was better news for Burntwood, who gave their survival hopes in Counties One West (North) a significant boost with a 24-0 win away to Newport seconds.
Stourbridge Lions, however, remain in trouble after a bruising 39-0 defeat at leaders Whitchurch.
Willenhall maintained their nine-point advantage at the top of Counties Two West (West) with a thumping 45-0 win at Newcastle seconds.
Stafford, meanwhile, made the most of their only home match of the month to run in nine tries against Leek seconds.
The 57-29 win was perfect revenge for the 57-12 defeat suffered in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Alex Rock and Kayden Robinson both scored braces, while Rob Jones, Dan Watts, Jerry Qasenivalu, Spencer Latham and Ben Pryce all went over for the rampant home side.
Promotion-chasing Eccleshall lost ground in Counties Three West (North) as they were beaten 43-27 at Lichfield seconds. Warley remain mid-table in Counties Three West (South) despite a tough 42-8 defeat away to Dudley Kingswinford’s second string.
In Counties Four West (North), Bloxwich strengthened their grip on second place by beating Trentham seconds 29-7.
