Bromsgrove 15 Stourbridge 47 (From Dudley News)

Bromsgrove 15 Stourbridge 47

8:51am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Stourbridge RFC

CLINICAL Stourbridge RFC made it five wins from five as they crushed Bromsgrove.

The game was won up front where Stour dominated in the scrum and the defence performed well despite their sternest test to date.

An early kick-chase by Sione Tu'ipolotu forced an attacking scrum where Bromsgrove were penalised for standing up as tighthead Mark George put the squeeze on. The Saxons opted to scrum again and their opponents disintegrated and were shunted back enabling Drew Harper to score at the base.

A crooked lineout throw provided another scrum platform from which Harper bagged a second try.

Next to score was Tu’ipolotu, after Tom Jarvis’ kick had sent Jamie Hearn clear down the left and the hosts simply ran out of defenders.

The bonus point try arrived before half time. Rich Stott secured a lineout from a Jarvis chip and chase, with the ball finding Tu'ipolotu, who drew defenders before putting Will Hurrell over.

Bromsgrove could only respond with a late penalty kick to trail 28-3 at the break.

A scrappy start to the second half saw the Boars notch their first try of the game but any joy for the hosts was shortlived, as the Stour pack again showed its strength to allow Harper his hat-trick.

Tu’ipolotu bagged his second try after the Saxons won yet another scrum and after the Boars had been reduced to 14 men, Nathan Bressington found Nigel Mukarati who went over for Stour’s seventh and final try.

The game ended with Bromsgrove hammering away at the Saxons line where they eventually scored after Tu'ipolotu was yellow carded for slowing the ball.

Despite the win, director of rugby Neil Mitchell still sees room for improvement.

He said: “The scrum will be a key phase as playing surfaces get heavier and I am pleased with our dominant performance there today.

“But I was unhappy with our second half performance, we needed to play simple rugby and go through the phases but we were guilty of forcing the plays, conceded turnovers and putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves.

“That isn't acceptable in a side with promotion aspirations.”