Stourbridge boys get back on track with away-day triumph
Stourbridge returned to winning ways and climbed back into the top three of National League 2 North.
After being edged out by Hull the week before, Stour bounced back in style with an entertaining 31-27 success at Otley.
It was the home side who took an early lead courtesy of two penalties from fly-half Ben Smith. But it was Stour who grabbed the first try of the day. George Morgan’s perfect running angle knocked a hole in the defence and his support runner, Dan Rundle, powered over. Chris Scott added the conversion.
The visitors extended their lead when Afeafe Haisilaa scampered beneath the posts, with an easy Scott conversion making 14-6.
Otley rallied and after Stour conceded their seventh penalty, winger Henry Roberts dashed through to score with Smith making a difficult conversion look easy.
Smith saw a penalty attempt strike the upright before the visitors struck again.
James Rodley claimed a lineout to set up a maul, with Joe Collingham at the rear. He burst out to the left and popped a pass to Joe Heatley, who scurried over the line close to the posts. Scott hit the conversion.
The visitors’ lead was extended immediately from the restart when Otley were stripped of the ball. Stour took full advantage with Rundle touching down for his fifth try of the season. Scott was successful again with the two-pointer.
Scott added a penalty to make it 31-13 but Otley refused to lie down and two tries from Brett Mitchell, both converted, cut the gap to four before Stour claimed the ball from Scott’s drop out and found touch to end the contest.
