Stakes high for Stourbridge at Stourton

Mar 14 2008

FORGET the Six Nations, the game of the day - as far as the Midlands goes - is at Stourton Park where second-placed Stourbridge take on leaders Otley in the National Two promotion stakes.

Stour won the away fixture in Leeds 21-20 in what many describe as one of their finest performances ever.

President Ian Cole freely admits Otley, relegated from National One last season, are probably the best team in the division but added: "We are not frightened of anyone and confidence is very strong."

Stour are running out of fly-halves, though, with Sam Robinson (knee) and centre Mark Eastwood (broken leg) both missing.

Eastwood's replacement, Dan Lavery, lasted half-an-hour in the win over Halifax two weeks ago before suffering a broken jaw.

That leaves Stour to bring in utility back Rod Petty, who arrived at Stourton Park from Pertemps Bees as a scrum-half.

Cole said: "Promotion will not be decided this weekend and we will probably have to go up to Manchester and get something there.''