EXPERIENCED hooker Liam Wordley will be handed a place in the starting line-up for Stourbridge RFC’s derby at Coventry on Saturday.

The former Blackheath and Cornish Pirates front row put in a starring role after coming off the bench during last weeks narrow 22-19 defeat at the hands of National One new boys Macclesfield.

And that will be enough to secure a place in the side against a Coventry outfit still smarting from their relegation from the Championship last season.

Stour director of rugby Neil Mitchell described Wordley’s impact on Saturday as “outstanding.”

He said: “He has this languid look but there was a certain England number 8 who looked like that and I may start calling him Deano!

“He has been a journeyman and has vast experience with Blackheath, Cornish Pirtates and Henley, not to mention England Counties who he captained.

“He is very self-confident and that works well with the players we have at the moment.”

Stourbridge were trailing 19-7 when Wordley and replacement scrum-half Louis Silver took to the field, prompting a monumental fightback. And the Worcester Warriors youngster could also find himself in action at the Butts Park Arena.

Mitchell added: “Louis also added a new dimension when he came on against Macclesfield.

“The pair of them made a real impact and a big difference.”

Stour outscored Macclesfield by three tries to one at the weekend, back row James Rodley’s second half brace adding to a first half offering from scrum-half Ollie Frost.

But the half-time deficit, due in part to having two players sin binned, proved too much in the end and Mitchell believes his side were given rough treatment by the officials.

He said: “I thought we were very harshly refereed.

“Had we not been so heavily penalised in the first half then who knows. We were penalised out of the game.

“It would have been good to start with a win but overall I was pleased.

”That was our first real test and anyone who watched the last 20 minutes will see the potential.

“We will get stronger and stronger and that could be key as many teams start well and fall off.”

Saturday’s trip to Coventry will be the first for Mitchell as a coach although he spent a season there playing in the top flight before heading to Stourton Park.

This weekend.s derby will also see winger Simon Frewin return to the club he left in the summer.