Stourbridge Saxons lose to Coventry

Stourbridge Saxons let a 17-point lead slip as they were edged out 27-25 in this enthralling Midlands derby clash.

A brace of Charlie Hayter tries inside the opening quarter should have helped steer the Saxons to victory but missed tackles and the inability to deal with Coventry's powerful pack proved costly for Neil Mitchell's side.

Jamie Hearn kicked a fifth minute penalty, awarded following a high tackle, before sending another delightful kick into touch within reach of the Coventry line.

And it was this kick that led to Stourbridge's first try on eight minutes, the Saxons jumpers stealing the line-out before working the ball across the backs to Hayter who ran through a gap that opened in the visitors' defence.

A second try followed on 19 minutes when Sam Robinson's quick hands fed the ball to Hayter whose pace again took him clear of Coventry's last line of defence. Hearn converted both tries to steer the home side into their 17-0 lead.

But, while the visitors' defence has leaked tries this season, they have also scored on a regular basis and they bounced back in impressive style.

On 26 minutes, winger Jeff Gregson cut in off the right flank to touch down beneath the posts, full-back Dan Richards adding the extras.

Flanker Matt Tibbatts ran through three challenges only to knock on just short of the posts moments later before Gregson claimed his second try on 33 minutes, exploiting space on the wing to dive in at the corner.

Richards again kicked the conversion, before Hearn slotted over his second penalty of the half to hand the home side a 20-14 interval lead.

A Richards penalty five minutes into the second period edged Coventry to within three points and the momentum now seemed to be with the visitors.

They took the lead for the first time on 55 minutes with a catch and drive move, hooker Matt Price dotting down with Richards kicking the extras.

Stourbridge hit back when Hearn and Ashley Smith combined down the left, the latter racing to the line, but Hearn's kick missed the target.

The home side held on to their slender one-point lead until the 77th minute when they were penalised for pulling down a maul and Richards made no mistake from in front of the posts.

Hayter and Matt Thomas went close to bagging a late winner for the home side, before Hayter picked up a yellow card deep in injury time for some unlawful footwork.