STOURBRIDGE RFC 33 v DMPRFC 18

However, they left Stourton Park in the knowledge that they had tested the league leaders and probably given them their most difficult outing to date.

Losing three influential players to injury during the course of the game, in Luke WISHNOWSKY, Zylon McGAFFIN and Grant CONNON, certainly contributed towards the defeat, but a puzzling penalty try awarded to the home side in the 12th minute of first half injury time and a bonus point try awarded to the home side, again in the 12th minute of second half injury time, added insult to those injuries.

No doubt, Stourbidge RFC thoroughly deserved their win, however, they certainly didn’t need any help to achieve it.

The game started exactly as DMPRFC had predicted, with Stourbridge RFC throwing everything ‘including’ the proverbial kitchen sink into attack in the first minutes.

But it was DMPRFC who registered the first points, albeit against the run of play.

A long kick out of defence was chased up by winger Chris McTURK, who’s presence unnerved the home winger into an error. McTURK then hacked on and gathered to score (0 – 5), stunning both the home support and the home team. Grant CONNON slotted the afters (0 – 7) and for a short while an eerie silence echoed around Stourton Park.

Stourbridge RFC do have a strong pack, which from an early stage caused problems, for not only the visiting forwards, but also the referee.

However, the DMPRFC eight competed manfully and more often than not, shaded possession in the contact areas, which were highly competitive.

Stourbridge replied with a try of their own, when after forward pressure pounded the visitors line, a long pass found their winger on an overlap and with a hint of a dropped ball over the line, the official awarded the try (5 – 7).

As a result of defending the try line, DMPRFC flanker Luke WISHNOWSKY was injured and although he persevered, he was later to retire prior to oranges, which did affect the visitors. Stourbridge also had to replace a man at that time due to injury.

DMPRFC did add to the visitors score on 19 minutes, as the home team were adjudged offside in defence and Grant CONNON obliged from thirty metres (5 – 10).

DMPRFC applied further pressure and from a chip kick by Grant CONNON, the ball was ushered into touch by the home defender. From the resulting attacking lineout, DMPRFC ‘s Guy van den DRIES rose highest, taking the ball on and over the try line for the score (5 – 15).

Stourbridge replied with a penalty of their own on the stroke of oranges (8 – 15) and there appeared to be just enough time for DMPRFC to go into half time with a deserved increased lead from a Grant CONNON penalty (8 – 18) as the home side were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.

There was due to be a few minutes of injury time, but what followed was an inordinate passage of play and another 10 minutes.

Firstly, Stourbridge were successful with a penalty (11 – 18) when the referee decided that the visiting scrum half had infringed from the side of a scrum under the posts.

When everyone thought that may be the end of first half proceedings, the game went on and on.

Just prior to an attacking scrum five metres out, DMPRFC lost influential scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN and which forced a re-shuffle.

There had previously been infringements on both sides at the scrum, which had been penalised by the official previously and granted, most of those infringements had been given against DMPRFC. But what followed was certainly harsh, as the referee awarded a penalty try under the posts (16 – 18), after one scrummage infringement by the visitors, when the result was not going to be a certain try. The afters were easy (18 – 18).

So Stourbridge levelled at oranges, when perhaps what was more appropriate was a slight DMPRFC lead into the interval.

The second half was very disappointing from a DMPRFC perspective. They looked dangerous when in possession and running at the opposition, during the course of another extended half, but things just did not work out.

A cynical, late, forearm smash by his opposite number on Grant CONNON saw the end of his game midway through the second half as Stourbridge took advantage and added a penalty and a converted try (28 – 18), which took the score into about the right points difference.

However, as the game spilt over into another ‘over the top’ period of injury time, a drive off the back of the scrum near to the visitors line, saw around 20 players involved in the ensuing ruck, but the referee from 10 yards was able to clearly see a Stourbridge touchdown (33 – 18).

Finally, it was refreshing to see a female referees assistant officiating at this level of rugby, however, the presence of the home water carrier/coach talking to her for long periods, must have been a constant distraction and perhaps not conducive to her role.