Stourbridge lock Richard Stott insists there is no panic at Stourton Park despite the fact their National Two North juggernaut has started spluttering.
The leaders, who after three defeats in seven games no longer qualify for the adjective ‘runaway’, slipped to another reverse at Darlington Mowden Park last weekend.
And with five games remaining their advantage over Hull Ionians is eight points, having played a game more and with a first-versus-second showdown at Brantingham Park on the horizon on Saturday week.
After 18 consecutive bonus point victories it would be easy to conclude Neil Mitchell’s men are feeling the pressure but Stott is adamant there is nothing to worry about.
“Our form this year has been pretty good for the majority of it. There were a few close games in the first 18 games but we stayed on top of it,” the second row said.
“With the side we have got I don’t think we need to stray too far from what we are doing at the moment. There may be a few things we need to iron out in a couple of set-pieces and game management when it gets close – but there’s nothing major.
“Sometimes you go to an away game and the opposition play well That’s what happened on Saturday.”
DMP resisted early pressure and put together a 14-9 upset that gives Ionians renewed belief ahead of their clash on April 6.
“The Hull game jumps out as a bigger one but I do not think we need to over-emphasise it. They have got to play sides in the top half and we have got to play Sheffield Tigers and Preston Grasshoppers.
“We want a big performance against Sheffield so we can get some momentum and don’t go to Hull on the back of two poor performances.”
Stour welcome seventh-placed Tigers to Stourton Park knowing an emphatic victory would be the perfect response to what Stott sees as merely a bad day at the office.
“The game before that we were very clinical and it was probably one of our best of the season, I don’t think there’s anything to panic about, we’re still in a good position.”
