Blaydon 32 Stourbridge 20 (From Dudley News)

Blaydon 32 Stourbridge 20

12:44pm Monday 2nd April 2012 in Stourbridge RFC

STOURBRIDGE RFC's relegation was confirmed on Saturday when this defeat in the North East ensured they would finish in the bottom three.

And while the writing has been on the wall for some time, it was a touch ironic that the rubber stamping of their place in the fourth tier of English rugby would come at the club where Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell honed his rugby skills.

A revitalised Stourbridge picked up their first win of 2012 when seeing off Rosslyn Park seven days earlier but that fighting spirit was absent as Blaydon back row Gavin Jones burrowed in for the opening try inside three minutes.

Nathan Bressington crossed for the visitors but the home side were enjoying their afternoon in the sun with Jones helping himself to a second before outside half Tom Catterick weaved his way through the static Saxons defence.

An Ali Bressington penalty ensured there was just nine points between the sides at the break but few could have predicted the Saxons onslaught at the start of the second half.

Robbie Hurrell dived over following good work by his second row partner Nile Dacres before scrum-half Peter White scored the try of the game – a delightful solo effort that saw him squeeze through before chipping the last man.

Those back-to-back tries edged the visitors into a 20-17 lead and Blaydon looked to be on the ropes.

But as the Saxons tired in the closing stages, the home side took advantage with a penalty try and a score from replacement scrum-half Gavin Charlton. A late Andy Baggett penalty wrapped up the scoring while Mitchell’s men plan for life in National Two.

Blaydon: Stewart (Painter 58), Barber, Incledon, Baggett, Wilson, Catterick, Crosbie (Charlton 50); Kalbraier, M Hall (Young 70), Ward (Foster 58), Wearmouth, Laughlin, Morris, Watchorn, Jones (Bell 73).

Saxons: Baker (Hearn 60), N Bressington, Jarvis, Barkley, A Bressington, Reakes, White (Richardson 61); Lawrence (Ruwers 58), Wordley, Furniss (Hill 71), Dacres, Hurrell, A Hall, Rovira, Jenner. Rep (not used): Mitchell.