Having summarily dismissed their nearest challengers in recent matches Stourbridge enter their bye-week with many already handing them the National Two North trophy.
Even though the season is not even halfway through, Stour have been so dominant in the first section of games it seems the only issues that remain to be solved are when and where the silverware will be handed over.
Thirteen wins and 13 bonus points have put Mike Umaga’s side top by 13 points and the manner in which they flattened second-placed Hull Ionians last weekend, with five first-half tries, suggests there is no-one to stop them.
Questions like ‘Who have they played?’ and ‘Can they do it in a mudbath?’ have been replaced by a rueful acceptance that the champions-elect have dismissed virtually everyone and possess both the power to thrive in the wet and the pace to flourish in the dry.
Not that anyone at Stourton Park is composing any speeches just yet. Seventeen games remain between Stourbridge and an immediate return to National One and while there are plenty of foes outside of Umaga’s group, there is also an enemy that lurks within.
“There is a danger of a drop off and we have talked about that over the course of the season,” the head coach warned. “We could start beating ourselves psychologically so we have to keep motivated and keep preparing the way we are between games. The benefit is that we know what to expect now, we have played virtually the first half of the season and found our feet. But there’s still Preston Grasshoppers to come.”
Stour resume their procession at Lightfoot Green on December 8 against a side that are a different prospect at home to the one that travels away, especially when they are able to field the odd high-profile rugby league legend.
“There is still plenty to focus on for the guys but you’d have to be pleased with the way we have started.”
