Good show is no comfort for Saxons

It will be scant consolation to Stourbridge Saxons' supporters that they played all the running rugby in this tense Stourton Park tussle.

Scottish won the game 17-9 with a brace of first half tries, front row pair Tom Standfield and Alex Clarke being driven over as the Exiles used their extra weight and experience to good measure.

Stourbridge piled on the pressure in the second-half but could find no way through, not even when the visitors were reduced to 14 men.

Standfield lunged over for the opening try on three minutes after being driven to the line from a Scottish line-out, with Lee Cholewa kicking the conversion.

Back-to-back penalties from Cameron Brown edged Stourbridge back into contention but Clarke's converted 37th minute try, after a period of pressure from the visitors, put them clear at the break.

The Saxons threatened to hit back at the start of the second half but Tom Jarvis was dragged back by the referee for a forward pass just as he was about to dot the ball down.

Brown kicked a long-range penalty to move his side to within striking distance, but some desperate Scottish defending kept Stourbridge out.

Visiting scrum-half Owain Walbyoff was sin-binned midway through the half but there was still no way through in spite of the best efforts of the Saxons pack, who were outstanding to a man.

A Cholewa penalty five minutes from the end eased Scottish clear and, when Brown's last gasp penalty flew wide of the target, Stourbridge were left empty–handed.

Former South African international Thinus Delport made his full debut at full-back and looked to have lost none of his prowess with the ball in hand.

As for the forwards, the entire pack were excellent with second row Will Betts and flanker Rupert Cooper worthy of particular mention.