Express & Star

Neil Mitchell calls on Stourbridge to show their class

Neil Mitchell has called on Stourbridge to show their class when they host National Two North leaders Hinckley this Saturday.

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The visitors arrive at Stourton Park boasting a perfect record of four wins from four games and represent the home side’s toughest challenge of the season to date, as well as an early measure of their own promotion credentials.

Stour sit sixth and head into the match off the back of a 36-7 win at Peterborough Lions, rated by Mitchell as their finest performance of the season to date.

And the director of rugby believes it will need another big showing if they are to topple the leaders.

He said: “This will be a real measure of where we are. Hinckley are a very good team who possess serious strength in depth.

“It is without question our biggest game of the season to date and I don’t think the players will need any extra geeing up for it.

“When we played Tynedale earlier in the month, there was perhaps the sense they are not as strong as they were.

“We know that isn’t the case with Hinckley. There have been real glimmers, particularly at Peterborough, of the class we have got.

“We are going to need to show more of it to win on Saturday.

“It’s the start of a big fortnight as we go to Hull Ionians the following weekend. After these two games we will have a better idea of where we stand.”

Joe Heatley, Adam Shaw, Nick Cairns, Dan Rundle and skipper Llyr Griffiths were the try scorers as Stour eased to victory in their first-ever competitive meeting with Peterborough.

The visitors scored four tries in the opening 40 minutes to secure a bonus point and take firm control of proceedings, with the home side’s only score a converted second-half penalty try.

Rickie Aley kicked three out of four conversions, with Chris Scott adding the extras after Rundle went over in the final minute.

It all added up to superb viewing for Mitchell, who watched a DVD replay of the match, having missed it ‘live’ due to completing a London to Paris cycle ride in aid of Cure Leukaemia.

He joked: “There were the usual messages you would expect on the club WhatsApp group: ‘Unbeaten without Mitchell’ and things like that! I knew what I was letting myself in for!

“It was a very good performance. In my view, it is probably the best we have played so far this season. We scored some very good tries and managed to stay in control.

“Some of the scrummaging decisions are always going to be a bit debateable when you have two big packs going for it.

“Our game is all about building a platform for the backs and we managed to do that.

“On the whole, I have to be very pleased.

“It is shaping up to be a very tough league this year. I thought Leicester Lions, who we played on the first week, were a very strong team but they are winless.

“It just goes to show how many good teams there are.”