Stourbridge director upbeat despite tight defeat

It was a game where defences dominated and quality attacking play was limited.

Kickers dominated the scoreboard, with the only try created by Sale's Tom Ailes.

"They played really well and I thought it was like watching two division one teams," said Mitchell.

"There was some really good defending on show, from both sides, and the game was decided by a breakaway try from their number eight. Apart from that, our defence held out really well.

"The attacking play could have been better from us but I have got no complaints and I liked what I saw on Saturday."

In an early sign of things to come, the Stour pack shoved Sale's scrum into reverse but the hosts managed to scramble a clearance kick.

Although their scrum dominance was to bring them a steady flow of penalties, Stour's line-out misfired all too often, supplying easy turnover balls that Sale looked to run back at them.

The visitors were the first to get off the mark with centre Joe Heatley securing a penalty, which outside-half Luke White slotted from around 40 yards out.

Shortly after, a similar offence gave White another shot from 45 metres that he landed comfortably.

Then came the turning point of the game – Ailes picked up the ball under pressure, broke the first up tackle and showed the defences a clean pair of heels.

With Stour winger Ash Elvers closing in, he fed the ball to centre Jack Moorhouse who crashed over in the corner, with full-back Liam McGovern landing a difficult conversion.

It was 7-6 to the hosts at half-time but, not long into the second period, White regained the lead for Stour with a touchline effort from40 yards out after Sale were penalised for playing a man off the ball.

After a period of pressure, Sale outside-half Chris Johnson slotted a penalty and followed it up with another minutes later to make it 13-9, which was the final score.

Stour are now fifth in the National Two North table with five wins and two losses from their first seven games.

They host 14th-placed Wharfedale on Saturday and Mitchell knows it will not be easy, despite the visitors' position.

"As I say, I liked what I saw on Saturday so I am hoping we can take that into this weekend.

"Sale took three points and we took one and if you look at it that way, we have not done bad at all and hopefully we can turn them over when they come to our place, which is what we want to do.

"Wharfedale are down there but they have beat the likes of Hinckley and South Leicester, who are rated quite highly by many, so we know they are a good side.

"This league can throw up results you would not expect to see, so you can't just look at the form of sides.

"Anybody is capable of beating anybody but I am confident we have got enough strength to cope and compete in this league, whoever we play against."