Wharfedale beat Stourbridge Saxons

Wharfedale claimed the double over a misfiring Stourbridge Saxons side at Stourton Park.

But it would have been the home side celebrating had they managed to convert some of their first half pressure into points.

Captain Ben Hughes handed them the early start with a try after just six minutes, the visitors responding with a Tom Barrett penalty ten minutes later.

But, from then on, the Saxons dominated the proceedings only to find some stubborn defending from the Yorkshire side blocking their way.

Prop Will Davis appeared to have a legitimate try chalked off by the referee and the visitors had second row Talite Vaioleti sent to the sin bin, referee John Meredith losing patience after one too many penalty offences in front of their own line.

But there was still no way through and Stourbridge paid the price, as Wharfedale bagged a penalty and brace of tries late in the half.

Vaioleti set up the first with a powerful run through midfield before releasing winger Simon Horsfall who dotted down between the posts despite the efforts of Bressington to haul him down.

There was further misery for the Stourton Park supporters as they then saw back row Dan Solomi driven over.

Barrett converted them both to hand the Greens a 20-5 lead at the end of the half that had seen them on the back foot for the majority of it.

With the wind at their backs in the second period, hopes were high for a Saxons revival and they edged closer to their target when James Rodley was driven over on 53 minutes.

But that momentum again came to nothing when winger Simon Frewin was shown a red card for stamping and the Yorkshire outfit took full advantage.

Number eight Rob Baldwin dived over from the back of a scrum for a third Wharfedale try on the hour, with winger James Druce claiming a fourth when he skipped in on the overlap three minutes later.

Centre Tom Jarvis dived in at the corner for a third try late on but the visitors never looked like relinquishing their lead.