Rugby round-up: Defeat sees Stour lose ground on leaders
Stourbridge lost ground on Regional One Midlands leaders Syston after letting slip a lead to lose at Burton.
The Stourton Park outfit were beaten for the fourth time this season and will enter 2025 sat 11 points off the summit with work to do if they are to claim promotion.
Stour made the perfect start in Burton with two tries in the opening 20 minutes giving them a 14-5 lead.
But two scores from Alexander Nesbitt either side of half-time turned the match around and it was the hosts who held on to claim a 22-19 win.
Dudley Kingswinford were unable to do their neighbours a favour as they were beaten by Syston despite a spirited effort which at least saw them claim a losing bonus point.
In what has been a tough season so far at Heathbrook, this 19-13 defeat was one of the better performances and should provide hope for better in the New Year.
The unbeaten leaders looked to have a commanding 19-5 lead at the break but DK refused to give up and a Thomas Walker try early in the second half, coupled with a Sam Vaughan penalty, set up a tight finish with the visitors holding on to win.
Old Halesonians remain firmly in the middle of the pack in Regional Two Midlands West after ending the year with a 28-12 defeat at Moseley Oak.
In Regional Two Midlands North, Walsall signed off 2024 in stunning fashion with an 83-22 thumping of Tamworth.
The hosts ran in 13 tries with both Dan Carpenter, who started the scoring inside the opening four minutes and Ben Pitt claiming hat-tricks. Hansen Christoffersen and Max Brown both bagged braces with Conor Rowe, George Green and Rich Clarke also on the scoresheet. Nine of the tries were successfully converted by Pitt.
Lichfield remain top of the pile after a thumping 47-3 win at home to Newark.
Stafford had no answer to the power of Counties One Midlands West (North) leaders Sutton Coldfield as they were beaten 41-7 at home.
Connor McCulloch provided some cheer with a first half try which he converted himself but this was a tough afternoon against a visiting team who have now won a perfect 12 out of 12 this season.
Stafford are off the bottom of the table courtesy of a better points difference than Wolverhampton, who were beaten 43-10 at Newcastle despite tries from Farhaan Aurangzeb and Louis Fletcher.
Willenhall are one place better off after being edged out in dramatic fashion 27-24 at Telford Hornets, Thomas Robinson kicking a late penalty to win it for the hosts, the visitors at least leaving with the consolation of a losing bonus point.
At the other end of the table, it will be a happier Christmas for Burntwood who consolidated their position as the closest challengers to Sutton with a 37-31 win over third-placed Veseyans.
Rugeley are up to seventh in Counties Three Midlands West (North) after a 19-12 win at Aldridge. Cannock found leaders Barton-under-Needwood too strong as they were beaten 55-26 at home but there was a good win for Stone, 41-5 over Stoke seconds.
