STOURBRIDGE'S best performance of the season, led by back row forwards Rupert Cooper and James Rodley delivered a six-try win against dogged Redruth.
The home side crossed four times before the interval, to bank the try bonus point, despite facing a gusty wind.
Determined and well-organised defence then ensured the visitors’ third quarter fightback only produced seven points, before a rampant finale brought two further thrilling tries, to seal a fourth win in five starts.
Young props Will Davis and Mike Hill also deserve huge credit for ensuring the Reds’ potent scrummage never became dominant.
In fact, such was the quality of the Saxons’ performance, very few of the home side were below par, on a day when their ability to get the ball wide, support in numbers, and run some sublime lines produced high levels of entertainment.
Cooper opened the scoring in the fourth minute, barging up the blindside, after Stour switched play, following an impressive lineout drive from Will Betts.
However, the Saxons kicked too much ball away over the next 20 minutes, giving the limited-but-game visitors the field position from which 18 year old fly half Aaron Penberthy struck three fine penalties.
Stourbridge responded with a devastating second quarter, during which their high tempo generated three fine scores.
After hard-working lock Betts took a flat pass from Tom Richardson, to crash over from close range, all-action flanker Rodley drove over for his fifth try of the season, in support of a scorching Richardson tap-and-go.
Then, after a prolonged stoppage, following a worrying neck injury to Redruth full back Brett Rule, former Bristol prop Davis opened his Saxons’ account when he charged under the posts.
Redruth tightened their approach after the break, to claim the third quarter’s only score when talismanic Kiwi no. 8 Mark Bright was at the bottom of a driving lineout.
However, two further home tries in the final 15 minutes killed off any lingering Cornish hopes.
A good kick chase from Jarvis, Rodley and Cooper, and some superb handling, sent full back Jamie Hearn scampering to the corner.
The home side continued to press, and another multi-phase attack generated a sixth try on the final whistle, when winger Ali Bressington slid into the corner.
Stourbridge: Hearn; Bressington, Jarvis, Hayter, Williams; Brown (Cozens, 66), Richardson (Frost, 74); Davis, Wordley (Page, 47), Hill; Hughes, Betts; R.Cooper, Rodley, Freeman (Thomas, 50).
Reps (unused) – McCarthy.
Redruth: Rule (Nowell, 32); Notman, P.Thirlby, Pedley (Hawkey, 65), Bowden; Penberthy, Simmons; Jacques, Brown (Gidlow, 60), Morcom (Joyce, 52); Cook, Collins (Duncan, 75); Fuca, Hambly, Bright.
Referee – Marcus Caton Man of the Match: Rupert Cooper (Stourbridge) Scorers: Stourbridge – Tries: Cooper, Betts, Rodley, Davis, Hearn, Bressington Conversions: Brown (2), Cozens Penalties: Redruth - Tries: Bright Conversions: Penberthy Penalties: Penberthy (3)
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