Dour Stour left to thank Luke’s boot

FOURTEEN points from the boot of Luke White made all the difference as Stourbridge downed Wharfedale in a match short on quality at Stourton Park.

Wharfedale arrived at the ground late and unsettled and, after a delayed kick-off, White bagged the first points with a penalty on three minutes before playing a big part in a flowing move which put Nigel Mukarati in for a try, duly converted by White.

Despite looking strong at the set-piece, Stour failed to capitalise and as the half wore on they were second best in the breakdowns, relying on two further penalties from White before the half-time whistle.

Wharfedale scored with a penalty from James Guy before scrumhalf William Lawn took advantage of a scrum on the Stour five-metre line to go over on the blind side after 30 minutes.

The second half could have been a much easier ride for the hosts, but Wharfedale made the most of every opportunity to keep Stourbridge in sight.

Tempers began to fray and eventually referee Alexander Thomas lost patience, handing Wharfedale’s Robert Baldwin a yellow card for not rolling away before White collected the only score of the second half with a penalty. TEAMS

STOURBRIDGE: Easton, Elvers, Heatley, Otutaha, Bridger, White, Tibbetts, Harrison, Wilkes, George, Depper, Moore, Mukarati, Harding, Carpenter

Replacements: Thorp, Murphy, Munro, Scott, Trinham

WHARFEDALE: Jordan, Wellock, Bullough, Morgan, Prell, Guy, Lawn, Altham, Stockdale, Huck, Allen, Hedgley, Baldwin, Wilson, Burridge Replacements: Larkin, Close, Ward, Hodgson, Parkinson REFEREE: Alexander Thomas ATTENDANCE: 295 Star man Luke White - Stourbridge