Rugby round-up: Ten-try Stourbridge move into pole position for play-off place

Saturday’s 64-0 win in Warwickshire saw them climb to third and into the second of the two available promotion play-off spots, with two matches of the season remaining.

Jake Kelly, Ben Freeman and George Westwood all scored two tries each for the visitors, who had the bonus point in the bag by half-time.

Luke Bimson, Dan Rundle, Liam Wordley and Freddie Morgan also crossed for Stour, who are at home to rivals Dudley Kingswinford this weekend.

The visitors are now doomed to the drop after losing 57-27 at home to Newent last weekend. Joseph Dunn scored two of DK’s five tries but their promotion-chasing opponents simply proved too strong.

Victory kept Newent just a point behind Stour, who leapfrogged Bromsgrove to move into the top-three after the Worcestershire club were edged out 41-37 at Lichfield.

The latter are still not mathematically out of the play-off race but will need to win both of their remaining matches and hope the three teams above them slip-up.

Walsall, long guaranteed a play-off place in Regional Two North, produced some of their best rugby of the season as they blew away Belgrave 74-7.

Flanker Max Hughes scored a hat-trick of tries, with seven other players also going over as the home side ran riot. 

The win took Walsall above the 700 points scored mark for the season and they are now virtually guaranteed a home tie in the play-off quarter-finals.

A tough season for Old Halesonians continued in Regional Two West, as they were edged out 34-32 at Ludlow despite a battling performance.

Stourbridge Lions kept their hopes in Counties One Midlands West (North) well and truly alive with a 24-15 win over Burntwood.

The Lions raced into a 19-0 lead thanks to two tries from Will Shillingford and were then able to hold off a second half fightback from their visitors.

They now sit just three points behind Aston Old Edwardians, who they face on the final day of the season next month.

Willenhall missed the chance to go top of Counties Two West (West) after they were edged out 31-29 at home by Ashbourne.

Clee Hill’s defeat at Longton had opened the door to Willenhall but they were unable to take advantage.

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton claimed a good 44-17 home win over Leek seconds but Stafford lost a thriller at Bridgnorth Bulls.

The teams shared eight tries and six yellow cards in a feisty encounter which saw the home side claim victory with the final score at the death.

Jack Raine’s hat-trick try with five minutes remaining appeared to have won it for Stafford, in a contest which briefly saw 12 play 13 in the second half. But it was not to be as Bridgnorth took advantage of a final penalty to win it.

Cannock’s survival hopes in Counties Three West (North) suffered a blow as they were beaten 35-22 at Market Drayton.

Stone won 37-22 at Rugeley, while in Counties Four West (North) there were wins for Bloxwich and Wednesbury against Stafford seconds and Wednesbury seconds respectively.