A late flurry of three tries in eight minutes failed to save Stourbridge after they had trailed 38-7 at relegation battling Esher by the 70th minute.

Stourbridge fightback earned them a bonus point but the final difference being home fly-half Neil Hallett's additional success with four penalties to add to three conversions.

Ben Harvey, playing flyhalf in the absence of captain Duncan Hughes, likewise converted three of the Stourbridge tries but was not offered several penalty chances as his pack tried fruitless lineout drives instead.

Esher raced into a 17-0 lead after tries from prop Duncan McCormack and centre James Ogilvie-Bull after 29 minutes.

Craig Jones, playing at full-back, then scored the first Stourbridge try, but Hallett's successes and a try from centre Piers Gregory widened the margin to 25 points.

Stourbridge hit back with tries from scrum-half Toby Handley's quick penalty tap, chip and gather, centre Aly McLaughlin's powerful burst through tackles and winger Ross Yiend's clear sprint to the line.