STOURBRIDGE produced a six try masterclass as they brushed aside sorry Sheffield Tigers.

Jamie Hearn’s penalty got the Saxons on the board early and two tries by Sione Tu’ipulotu put them in command at half-time.

Nathan Bressington got the third try early in the second half before replacement James Rodley secured the bonus point with a superb solo effort.

Rodley and Bressington then both scored again to complete a morale-boosting afternoon.

It was also a vital win in the context of the season, preserving Stour’s eight point lead atop National Two North ahead of next week’s clash at second-placed Hull Ionians.

Anything other than a five-point win today would have been considered a minor disaster but it never looked in doubt, even though Sheffield’s brave defending meant the bonus point was not ensured until the final quarter.

Stour can go to Hull next week knowing a victory will virtually ensure the title and promotion.

The visitors were subject to a methodical dismantling by the hosts, who dominated the contest throughout.

An early Jamie Hearn penalty got Stourbridge off the mark after they had exerted plenty of early pressure.

The only surprise was the games was 16 minutes old when Tu’ipulotu grabbed the first converted try, forcing his way over in the corner as Sheffield’s resistance finally broke.

The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the game but found Stour’s prevent defence too tough a nut to crack and Stour quickly regained the initiative.

However, despite the game at times being played almost entirely in the visiting 22, the hosts were finding it tough to add further points.

The brilliant Tu’ipulotu eventually provided the breakthrough with six minutes of the half to play, picking his way through visiting defenders to score.

As bravely as they defended Sheffield simply had no answer and the hosts grabbed their third try five minutes into the second period, when a break from Will Hurrell ended with Tu’ipulotu sending an inch perfect kick out wide to Nathan Bressington, who stepped inside the last man to score.

The Saxons secured the bonus point just past the hour mark when James Rodley, only recently introduced as a replacement, showed great speed to burst through the Sheffield line for a try out of nothing.

Rodley got a second soon after when he made the most of a strong break from Gary Dipple and Stourbridge’s excellent afternoon was complete when Bressington got his second, scoring in the corner after Hurrell had again torn through the visiting defence.

Stourbridge: Hearn, Bressington, Hurrell W, Dipple, Jarvis, Tu’ipulotu, White, Sturdy, Pearl, George, Hughes (c), Hurrell, Mukarati, Ejike Uzoigwe, Drew Harper Reps: Rodley, Garner, Stott, Adams, Ryan.

Sheffield: Swatkins, Graham, Broadley, Buchanan, Tharme-Loose, Outram, Drage, Simmons, Chivers, Cone, Joel, Wragg, Argyle, White, Pearson Reps: Walker, Wallace, Bird, Whitworth, Bennett.