NEIL Mitchell says he is questioning the character of his Stourbridge players after their woeful showing at Wharfedale.

Stour lost 37-0 against their relegation-threatened opponents as they failed to hit back after the previous weekend's loss against Sale.

It was the first time Stour have failed to score in a league game since February 2011.

Mitchell said: "It was as much of a shock to me as anyone. We did lose players before the game but weren't in it at all.

"Jack Lea, Nick Murphy, Mark George, Liam Mather and James Othuha all couldn't play. We have had to make five changes to the line-up from Saturday and that hasn't helped us.

"You have to question the character of individuals after a result like that. I said before the game that it would prove a character test and it did.

"We have showed we can play some great rugby this season but when we need to dig deep we have fallen short. That is unacceptable and I have let the players know that.

"They are a good group and have a camaraderie to play for each other but perhaps not to play for the club in the way that Wharfedale showed.

"The nature of the club means we don't have generation after generation coming through the ranks. Wharfedale had that on Saturday, you could see it in the crowd as well, and it is something we couldn't match."

One element Mitchell thinks could improve the amount of Stourbridge-born players in the starting line-up is the recent success of Stourbridge Lions.

The separate club, which also plays at Stourton Park, is currently top of Midlands Two West (North).

Mitchell explains: "The Lions are a separate club but we share the same facilities. If they get promoted this year, and it looks like they have a great chance, it would make transfers between the two clubs much easier.

"They would be at the same level as DK and Bromsgrove, which is a massive credit to the coaching set-up. We do need a better system to the one at the moment and hopefully we could both benefit from players moving between the clubs.

"That could be one way of getting more Stourbridge lads into the side."

Meanwhile, the director of rugby says he isn't feeling under pressure despite another failed promotion attempt this term.

"I'm not under pressure after a result like Wharfedale because their wasn't anything I could so about losing the amount of players I did ahead of the game. It was circumstantial," he added.

"We now face Sedgley Park at home this Saturday and have to show more. They are in a similar position to ourselves so we have to hit back."

The game against Sedgley Park kicks off at 3pm.