Saxons can shock for Adam Sturdy

Prolific Stourbridge Saxons front row Adam Sturdy believes his side will surprise plenty of people this season

Sturdy has been forced to watch from the bench following recent knee surgery which is likely to leave him on the sidelines until November.

But that has given Study a birds eye view of the progress new-look Stourbridge are making under director of rugby Neil Mitchell.

As a result of their links with Worcester, Stourbridge have seen wholesale changes to the side.

Sturdy claimed: "Most sides make two or three changes every season - we've made 12, so obviously it's going to be difficult for the first couple of months we new players and a new coaching set-up - but already we've surprised a few people.

"In addition to that, we're a very young side and we're going to make mistakes, some of which are schoolboy errors at times. But it's nothing that can't be fixed.

"However, we are a very fit side and we will keep going for 85 or even 90 minutes if we have to - just as we did against Launceston.

"Not only did we level late into stoppage time, but we also had the nous to go on to win the game.

"To dominate as much as we did, having about 75 per cent of possession and yet to be trailing 10-3 at the death is remarkable.

"It's nice to see that we have players who can come off the bench and make a difference, like Tom Richardson did, because that's not always been the case at Stourbridge.

"Launceston are a very physical, experienced and aggressive side who seem to know all the tricks of the trade and always live close to edge, that's why they pick up so many yellow cards, like they did against us last Saturday.

"It was nice to see we can go and do a job on them. It will give us the confidence to take on Blackheath this Saturday.

"They had a very strong front five last season, but we matched them at home and I think it's going to be a very interesting game".