On their return to the Stadium pitch at Liberty Way, the Nuns lost out to 2nd placed Stourbridge with the last play of the game going down 29-35. The Nuns had led for nearly 50 minutes but had also played over 70 of those down to 14 men, with an early yellow card and then a red card for Benji Mitchell in the 18th minute. They scored four tries through Tom Aherne, Mike Volaikisuva, Louis Addleton and James Moreton with Lucas Brindley adding three conversions and a penalty. Changes to last week’s side saw Ben Dawes (prop), Rudi Reid (back row), Tom Smitham (scrum half), Ryan Preston (centre) and Harry Beverley (wing) all come in to start with Zeb Gibson and Ben Kirby ruled out through injury.

Cheered on by a large supporting crowd, in sunshine and perfect conditions both sides set out with a mindset of keeping the ball alive and attacking from all over the pitch. The Nuns were reduced to 14 men in the 4th minute when Beverley was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down in the home 22m but this didn’t lead to any points scored as the defence held firm.

Both teams continued to show an attacking mind set but neither could get the first points despite plenty of line breaks due to the pace of the game.

Then, in the 18th minute the game was made harder for the Nuns. From a quickly tapped penalty Stourbridge attacked and when Benji Mitchell made a big collision in a tackle he took the attacker above the horizontal and the referee deemed he had landed on his neck. A red card was awarded and the Nuns now faced the rest of the game with 14 men.

To their full credit they didn’t let this stop them and it was in the 22nd minute that they took the lead. Stourbridge were penalised for a high tackle on their 22m in front of the posts and Brindley stroked the ball through the up rights for the first points of the day, 3-0.

Stourbridge came back shortly with their first try of the day. They moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and got their wing in possession to cut inside past a defender to score. With the conversion added they led 3-7 after 25 minutes.

It was the Nuns that came back next in the 33rd minute. Starting with the ball in their own half they went through a number of phases with some positive line breaks through a number of players. Eventually, Aherne picked from a ruck a barged through a couple of tackles for a try which was unconverted. They were now back in front 8-7.

Stourbridge came right back at the Nuns from the kick off and won a couple of penalties. They were knocking hard at the home defence who
were standing firm in the close quarters. As Stourbridge then moved the ball wider full back Volaikisuva picked off a long pass inside the 22m. Off he went in a foot race with a defender but he managed to keep a gap and dotted down near the corner. Brindley added a well struck conversion to open a lead of 15-7 on 37minutes. This lasted until halftime.

Stourbridge started the second half on the front foot and got themselves back in the game in the 42nd minute. Keeping the ball alive in contact they got through the defence 20m out to score a converted try, 15-14.

In an end to end game the Nuns were next on the score board. Scoring another well put together try with backs and forwards combining. Wilson made the final break after an inside pass from Smitham to get within 5m of the line, as he was tackled he popped the ball to the supporting Addleton. Brindley’s conversion took the score to 22-14 after 49 minutes.

The Nuns continued on the front foot and during a spell of pressure they were looking to extend their lead. Unfortunately, it was Stourbridge’s turn to score an interception after they picked off a pass to race in from 75m to close the score again to 22-21 on 56 minutes.

From the kick off the Nuns were awarded a penalty and so they started another wave of attacks on the visitors building pressure in the 22m.They battered away but couldn’t cross the line after several attempts. From a knock on at a line out Stourbridge were awarded a 5m scrum but the Nuns turned the screw to gain a penalty. From a tapped penalty surge the ball came back and Moreton crossed from a pick and go for the bonus point try. Brindley converted to take lead back to 8 points at 29-21 on 61minutes.

Both teams continued to play open rugby and bodies were starting to tire. Neither team was taking an overall control of the game and it was Stourbridge who came back into it on 73 minutes. From a half slipped tackle 15m they kept the ball alive with a couple of passes to score under the posts. With the conversion added they closed the gap to just one point with the score now 29-28.

Entering the final stages of the game and it was still too tight to call. Stourbridge got themselves into a position to try and win the game. A penalty was won and the ball sent to touch. The Nuns managed to win the line out but couldn’t gather the tapped back ball only knocking on. From the scrum Stourbridge worked the ball across the pitch but the defence was holding firm. But the referee then signaled for a penalty advantage. Finally, Stourbridge crossed in the corner for a fifth try which was converted to take the win 29-35 in the last play of the game.

This was a performance full of character and determination from a side that played with 14 men for 72 minutes. Many teams would have collapsed from the early setbacks especially against a team that was sitting 2nd in the league but, with the support from the sidelines the players battled hard and never gave up. It was a very entertaining game for the crowd with both teams showing some good open play.

Reflecting post match, head coach Huw Thomas “I couldn’t be prouder of the lads for today’s effort and gutted for them to lose out at the end like that. I felt we deserved the win and put in a huge amount of effort especially being down to 14 men for so long. Stourbridge are second in the league and we have pushed them so close in two games this season which shows we are on the right path.”

Next weekend it is a derby match with Kenilworth away for the 1st team with the Saxons hosting Veseyans.

1 James Redman 2 Louis Addleton 3 4 Ben Haywood 5 Tom Aherne 6 Oli Mitchell 7 Benji Mitchell 8 Rudi Reid 9 Tom Smitham 10 Lucas Brindley 11 Travis Bennett-Allcock 12 Tom Eales 13 Ben Ryan Preston 14 Harry Beverley 15 Mike Volaikisuva; 16 Ryan Marsh 17 James Moreton 18 Joe Wilson