National One: Coventry 45 Stourbridge 32
On the plus side, Stourbridge managed five tries at Butts Park Arena – unfortunately Coventry scored seven in what for neutrals was a 12-try festival of rugby.
“Could do better”, was again the report from Stour director of rugby Neil Mitchell, although he was pleased with progress despite the result.
His side made far less mistakes than the opening match, had scored five tries at Butts Arena, never an easy task, putting together some decent phases.
Stour, for various reasons, are behind other teams. Mitchell said: “Our last pre-season was in Jersey and none of the players dual-registered with Worcester were available and we had seven or eight players who are no longer with the club.
“We are about a month and two pre-seasons behind everyone else but we will improve as the season goes on and we will surprise someone one day.”
He will be hoping for a mild, dry, winter though to keep mud to a minimum. “Our one weakness is weight in the pack.”
Mitchell, who played for Coventry, held his hands up for the result at his old team.
“It must run through the veins at Coventry, they are always an abrasive, workmanlike side. We were bullied a bit in the first half, bouncing off tackles, they were better than we were.”
Stour took the lead against the run of play, with Luke Cozens’ penalty on 15 minutes, but Cov hit back with two tries in three minutes – Brett Daynes sending in Tom Harris before claiming the second himself when a gap opened up at a ruck.
Fly-half Danny Richards converted both and was on target again when Daynes strolled over. Stour pulled one back after 38 minutes, Tom Jarvis finishing off the break, but Cov finished the half with a Luke Beales try.
Stour skipper Ben Hughes crossed three minutes after the restart, but the try was immediately cancelled out by lock Sam Herrington, and a converted try by Stour winger Charlie Fellows also drew an instant response from Cov flanker Alex Nash.
Heath Stevens claimed Cov’s seventh try, but Stour kept going and Will Betts and Simon Frewin scored to close the final gap.
