DEFIANT Neil Mitchell says the National Two North title race is far from over after Stourbridge’s defeat at Hull Ionians.

The Saxons are no longer in control of their own destiny following last Saturday’s agonising 24-23 defeat on Humberside.

Instead Stour, who back in January seemed to already have one hand on the trophy after winning their first 18 games, need Ionians to drop a minimum of two points from their remaining four games.

Mitchell’s side would then win the title if they avoid dropping points in their last three games, starting with Saturday’s visit of Preston Grasshoppers to Stourton Park.

The Saxons’ director of rugby claims the pressure is on both sides and says his players cannot afford to dwell on how their fortunes have turned.

He said: “It’s certainly going to be exciting, though not for me because we should already have it in the bag.

“We’ve got three huge games remaining and if we can take 15 points we give ourselves a good chance. That’s all we can do and we can’t worry about what has gone on before.

“Hull still have four to play and for the first time it is in their hands.

“All year we have been the ones to beat, when we lost to Bromsgrove and Otley their players celebrated like they had won the Heineken Cup.

“That’s what it’s like being top dogs and now Hull will get a taste of that.

“If they win the last four games they will match our record of 18 wins on the bounce. It’s unfortunate that could happen this year in our division but there is no doubt they will have deserved it should that be the case.”

Mitchell blamed Saturday’s defeat on two individual errors early in the second period which allowed the hosts to overturn a 13-7 half-time deficit.

Even then Stour could have won it after Dale Garner’s converted try brought them back within a point but Jamie Hearn’s last-gasp penalty attempt drifted a foot wide of the post.

Though it seemed almost unthinkable just weeks ago, Stour’s hopes of promotion may now rest on a play-off against the National League Two South runners-up, most likely Henley.

Mitchell said: “Essentially we have two turns of the card left. We still have a chance of the title if we win the last three games, if that doesn’t happen the final card is a home play-off.”

He added: “Jamie was devastated as you can imagine but the defeat was not his fault.

“I’m not going to lie, all year I have expected we would be champions.

“Throughout my time at Stourbridge I have been very, very wary of things.

“Complacency is something I often warn against but on Saturday we were not complacent.

“It was an excellent game which we dominated up front but made a couple of bad mistakes which they capitalised on and punished us for.”