A PULSATING contest at Stourton Park ended in victory for Stourbridge after a dramatic score with the last kick of the game.

Tyndale travelled to the midlands looking for points to continue their promotion push while Stourbridge were intent on giving their home fans something to cheer as the season draws to a close.

Stour drew first blood straight from the start with a penalty from fly-half Robbie Forbes but Tynedale answered on three minutes with an unconverted try from blindside flanker Joe Mills from a lineout.

Both sides had chances, Forbes missed a penalty while Tynedale dropped a final pass for a try after a 60 metre break, before Stour regained the lead.

Fan's favourite Jack Lea crashed over for a try on 15 minutes following a scrum and Forbes added the extras.

Again Tynedale benefitted from winning lineout ball from the restart to set hooker David Batey up for a try which was converted by Jake Rogers.

The visitors extended their lead four minutes later with an incisive attack and try from James Spencer before a Forbes penalty from 22m following a counter attack by Joe Heatley cut the deficit.

Tynedale restored their nine point lead with an attack after Stour list possession on opposition territory which resulted in an unconverted try for right winger Aedan Moloney on 37 minutes.

Once again Stour hit back when the industrious Niall Gibbons broke through Dale's defence for a try which was converted by Forbes to make the half time score 20-22 to Tynedale.

The second half began with Gibbons continuing his powerful performance and on 44 minutes the hosts secured a scrum penalty and slick passing put Rod Petty in under the posts for a try he then converted.

A try-saving tackle by Hal Riley denied Tynedale just 10 metres out as the visitors continued to attack but staunch Stour defence kept their lead intact.

Petty extended the advantage with a Petty penalty and Riley added and unconverted try from a five metre scrum on 62 minutes.

Tynedale stormed back into the lead with a pair of tries from Oliver Walker and a conversion from replacement Ashley Smith with an away win seemed more likely after Stour's George Morgan was sin-binned with five minutes to go.

With 80 minutes on the clock Stour were awarded a penalty which Petty slotted home to complete the scoring and hand the hosts a hard-fought bonus point win.

Final score Stourbridge 35-34 Tynedale.

However, the character and confidence of Stourbridge players, combined with a desire to take revenge from earlier in the season was going to be crucial and they spent the rest of the game in attack.

The hosts were awarded a penalty for Tynedale tackling high. Strangely, the referee did not follow suite by sending the offending player from the field of play! This incident was followed by a free kick and another penalty with the clock now well and truly stopped. Step up player coach and veteran of many a battle, Rod Petty. Whether he was taking responsibility, charge or glory, he opted to take the kick himself. In front of a hushed crowd he carefully placed the ball and calmly kicked with some 300 breaths held and six hundred fingers crossed!

The author has no idea what happened as he had now turned his back and was praying silently into a well scribbled note book.. However, the roar of the crowd was enough to confirm a successful end to the game and a thoroughly deserved 5-point bonus win.

We wish Tynedale all the best for their coming 3 games but it would be great to see them next season and visit a picturesque ground where we always receive a great welcome. As for Stourbridge, the best we can do is 4th place and 5th, at worst! Next week we travel to 8th place Macclesfield and it would be good to see as many of you as possible make this relatively short trip.

Our final game is at home to Otley on 28th April and this promises to be an entertaining game. We beat them, up at their place 21 – 42 on 2nd September and they will surely want to prove a point, on the road.

After, this final match, the long journey into next season begins and DoR Neil Mitchell is already planning ahead by seeking out new faces, talking to old ones and securing signatures that will carry this great club into our 153rd year!