Captain back for Stourbridge Saxons

Captain Ben Hughes should be back to lead Stourbridge Saxons when they head north to take on Tynedale in National One on Saturday.

And his return is a massive boost for director of rugby Neil Mitchell, who saw his side shoved around the park in their 27-25 defeat at the hands of Coventry last weekend.

Second row Hughes missed the Midlands derby clash after being laid low by a bout of 'flu. The Stourton Park side were further weakened by the loss of Tom Jarvis, who had played for England Counties in Ireland the previous evening.

Mitchell admitted: "The all-action centre should also be back in the starting line-up and his excellent tackling was sorely missed against Coventry.

"We played with endeavour but our tackling was poor in the first-half. Missed tackles cost us a five-point result against Coventry.

"We played with endeavour but we got outmuscled. We lack physicality and we let the dominance of their maul take us to task.

"It was during a brief period of the match but these are really tight games and you cannot afford to make mistakes."

Centre Charlie Hayter's brace of early tries gave the Saxons the perfect start with Ashley Smith adding another in the second period.

But there were times when Stourbridge's rapid backs could not get their hands on the ball.

Mitchell added: "It was a game we should have won. We had the personnel to do it and I thought we were the better side but those two things let us down – missed tackles and the lack of physicality.

"When we had the ball we looked dangerous but Coventry just played 'keep ball' all the time and starved us of possession.

"Thinus Delport and Tony Windo do a good job out on the park but ultimately you need players with the physicality that Coventry has to compete.

"We need some 18 and 19 stone athletic boys and we need them for next season."