Stourbridge Saxons beat Coventry

Stourbridge Saxons' lock forward Robbie Hurrell put in a storming display against his former club to lead his team to their first league win over their West Midlands' rivals.

The curse of the former player struck Coventry as the giant Hurrell dominated the lineout and put in a shift around the field, as the Saxons built on a slender half-time advantage with a convincing post-interval display.

The Saxons outscored the visitors by three tries to two to claim a third win in four games, this time by 20-12, with four vital points that boost their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Coventry controlled the early stages through their powerful scrummage, but the hosts' defensive organisation was more than a match for everything thrown at them.

Stourbridge turned defence into attack on the half hour mark, with a superbly constructed try.

Hurrell burst clear from a lineout, before secure handling allowed Matt Williams to put top scorer Nathan Bressington in the corner for his tenth touchdown of the campaign.

Stourbridge director of rugby Neil Mitchell introduced two fresh props at half-time and it paid dividends, as hooker Liam Wordley emerged from the bottom of the ensuing driving maul with his eighth try of the season.

Coventry needed a speedy response and they got it, when centre Jack Green stepped 30 metres through a static home defence to touch down a try, which Mark O'Connor upgraded.

The hosts extended their advantage 15 minutes from time, when a slick set move released Ben Barkley through midfield, and the powerful centre sent replacement flanker James Rodley under the posts for a converted score.

But determined Coventry, once again, hit back immediately with the best try of the day.

After their driving lineout was again well held, the visitors patiently kept possession through multiple phases, before scrum-half Lewis Barker finally forced his way over from close range.

Hearn eased home nerves with a 30 metre penalty eight minutes from time and, despite the visitors' best efforts, an eight point advantage provided a cushion to send a bumper Stourton Park crowd happily into Christmas.