Stourbridge 23, Otley 37

STOUR'S promotion prospects were dealt a savage blow with this decisive defeat by Otley, writes Nick Pullen.

Sorry Stour surrendered a 15-7 half time lead as they were pulled apart after the break.

The second half was in real danger of never happening following a frightening injury to Otley fly half Ben Fairclough four minutes before the interval.

In an horrific scene, Fairclough swallowed his tongue and stopped breathing at one point.

Thankfully, Stour's medical team came to the rescue - a point not lost on Otley's grateful Director of Rugby James Tiffany who insisted afterwards: "Please make sure in your report to mention our thanks to the Stourbridge medics, because they were fantastic. It just goes to show the importance of having a doctor presence.

"Ben was back breathing and talking by the time the ambulance arrived and we hope he'll be OK".

Play was halted for almost half an hour while Fairclough received treatment.

But on resumption, Otley set about dismantling Stour as they dished out a devastating defeat.

Otley had started the game like a house on fire and scored within 83 seconds of the kick off.

Following a driving maul, Otley flung the ball wide for right wing Harry Hudson to storm over in the corner for a try which scrum half Steve Depledge duly converted.

Stour struck back. Full back James Hearn slotted over a penalty in front of the posts and then raced over for a try following a telling break from fly half Gary Dipple.

Further sustained pressure on Otley's line saw hooker Dale Garner power over for a second try which Hearn converted.

Leading 15-7, Stour appeared to have laid the foundation for victory.

But Otley were always a threat when they moved the ball wide and they began to expose Stour's fragile defence as the second half progressed.

Full back Arnie Ellison scampered over wide out before Hudson secured his second try while exposing some feeble Stour tackling in the process.

The accurate Depledge converted both tries and kicked a penalty for good measure to put Otley 24-15 in front.

Stour tried to repair the damage and an excellent break by Stef Shillingford just before the hour mark enabled No.8 Drew Harper to pick up and drive over.

Gary Dipple took over the kicking duties after Hearn left the field injured and missed the resulting conversion.

In contrast, Depledge kicked everything going.

He slotted over two more penalties for Otley as Stour's play became ever more error riddled.

Dipple replied with a penalty of his own to give Stour a glimmer of salvaging something with the score now 30-23 in Otley's favour.

At the same time, Otley were reduced to 14 when replacement James White was yellow carded.

But it was Otley who finished the game on top. They laid seige to Stour's line and forced a number of scrummages before referee Brendan McGaffney lost patience and awarded Otley a penalty try with Depledge inevitably adding the extras, while replacement forward Chris Depper was sent to the sin bin for good measure.

Stour could have no complaints and afterward unhappy Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell admitted he'd now lost patience with his players and issued a stark warning when he claimed: "Too many of my experienced players are living off the past two seasons and we cannot continue to live off the past. "I would like to make changes, but because of injuries I am limited to what I can do.

"But at some point, there will be changes!

This reverse represents Stour's fourth defeat in five games, leaving them with a mountain to climb to get back into the title race.

Stourbridge: Hearn; Bressington, Shillingford, Barkley, Cooksammy; Dipple, Murphy; Blackburn, Garner, George; Moore, Hurrell; Mukarati, Uzoigwe, Harper. Replacements: Tuipulotu, Depper, Page, Hughes, Cullen.