Stourbridge Saxons fall just short

Rosslyn Park 33 Stourbridge 24

Stourbridge Saxons fell agonisingly short against Rosslyn Park after a brilliant second-half fightback was cruelly snuffed out in the dying moments of the match.

The Saxons almost overturned a half-time deficit of 25-3, closing to within four points with just moments left only to concede a sucker punch try to lose 33-24.

The fightback began early in the second-half from a line out that the pack drove into the Park 22 and back row Matt Thomas went over from close range to touch down near the sticks.

The comeback gained momentum when the coaching staff made the bold decision to send on all five Stourbridge replacements on 66 minutes.

This reaped immediate dividends as the new fly-half Mark Woodrow put up a lovely kick and Ben Barkley timed his run perfectly to put in one of the hits of the season on Neville Edwards.

The Park full back was driven ten metres backwards and limped off the pitch shortly afterwards.

More importantly, it forced a turnover from which the position was set up for flanker James Rodley to score, Hearn again added the extras.

With five minutes left on the clock, Stourbridge captain and second row Ben Hughes popped up wide on the right and scored a try a winger would have been proud of.

The subsequent conversion that made the score 28-24 and momentum seemed to be with the visitors, but it was Park who had the final say by driving upfield from the kick off before spreading wide for Chris Lewis to finish.

The home side had dominated the first-half with tries from Jon Rudd, Steve Parsons and Mark Lock, as well as two Ross Laidlaw penalties.