STOURBRIDGE Lions' skipper Stuart Doolittle was full of praise for his side after they claimed a thrilling 17--12 victory over rivals Kidderminster at Stourton Park last Saturday.

“That was our toughest game this season. The team put in an immense performance against a Kidderminster side who were really up for it and came here needing a win to stay in the promotion race,” he said.

Kidderminster edged the opening exchanges and a good break from fly half George Morgan released the Kidderminster centre who scored a converted try under the posts. The Stourbridge forwards then began to dominate and took control of the set pieces. A lineout just inside the Kidderminster 22 resulted in a catch and drive with Stuart Doolitlle touching down. The powerful Stourbridge pack drove the opposition back over their own line for number 8 James Meakin to take the honours leaving the half time score 12–7 to the Lions.

From the kick off the visitors took the game to Stourbridge and quickly notched an unconverted try to level the scores. With both teams defending well, it could have gone either way until the Stourbridge centre Harry Wainwright intercepted and juggled a loose ball which quickly passed through several pairs of hand for Lions winger Danny Cox to score in the corner and secure the win.

Lions now travel to second-placed Banbury for their final league game of the season before meeting another local rival, Bridgnorth, in the final of the North Midlands Shield at DK on Sunday, May 11.