Stourbridge back on track in top three

They bounced back from a three-point defeat at Sale to beat Luctonians – second from bottom – 27-18 at home in their last match before Christmas.

Stourbridge return to action on January 2 with a trip to Wakefield to face Sandal.

Meanwhile, Old Halesonians took their fourth consecutive win in National League Three Midlands with a victory over Syston.

Despite the horrendous wind and rain a bonus point 22-8 success was the perfect Christmas present for Hales, who are currently holding on tight to second place on the table.

They are 10 points behind the leaders Hinckley, who have dominated the season so far and are undefeated.

What started as a rather challenging match for Hales was turned round by the home side, who shrugged off earlier inconsistency with Luke Smith scoring the important bonus try.

Hales take a longer break over the Christmas period and will return on January 9 with a trip to Old Northamptonians, who are currently a perilous 12th in the table.

Mid-table Lichfield suffered their ninth defeat of the season, pipped at home 26-22 by Scunthorpe to leave them eighth in the standings.

Lichfield will travel to Sutton Coldfield on January 9, where they will hope to start the year off on the right foot with what would only be their second away league success this season.

The other one, curiously, was their first away trip of the campaign back in September when they edged out Scunthorpe by four points.

Sutton Coldfield, bottom of the table, are winless in four and represent an opportunity for Lichfield.

In Midlands One West, Walsall's struggles continued with a 38-18 away loss to Crewe & Nantwich.

It was their sixth consecutive defeat – they have only one league victory to their name so far this season – and Walsall remain bottom with just six points to their name.

It doesn't look any easier in the New Year, with Walsall hosting second-placed Bridgnorth on January 2 in a rearranged fixture.

Dudley Kingswinford celebrated their third consecutive win as they welcomed fourth-placed Stratford-upon-Avon.

The 60-12 victory sees them eighth in the table, but such is the congestion above them that DK are only eight points behind leaders Burton.

Dudley Kingswinford travel to Walsall on January 9.

In Midlands Two West North, Kidderminster Carolians came away at third-from-bottom Shrewsbury with a hard-fought 15-6 victory.

Kidderminster are currently fifth in the table, seven points behind Wolverhampton in third after the latter's 10-3 loss at Old Saltleians.

Carolians have a derby trip to Stourbridge Lions, who crushed Handsworth 60-5, when action resumes on January 9.

In Midlands Three West North, Burntwood suffered their fourth consecutive loss. The 44-0 defeat at table-toppers Tamworth leaves Burntwood in mid-table.

They get a chance to snap the losing streak on January 9 when they host bottom-of-the-table Bloxwich, who were edged out 11-7 by second from bottom Wednesbury.

Willenhall lost their eighth match on the trot, going down 35-0 at Eccleshall.