match report
Bright Spells
In a game Southend needed to win they dominated the first half with well over 70% possession and played virtually all of it in the Stourbridge half so they were disappointed, going in to half time only 10 – 3 up.
With a penalty from Simon Hoult after two minutes followed by a converted try from captain McKlintock after ten, you will see that despite any number of good opportunities, failure to finish them off eventually cost the game. Over eagerness led to fumbles, knock-on’s, missed placed and forward passes.
With a minute to go before half time, on one of the very few occasions that Stourbridge managed to get onto the front foot, they ventured into Southends twenty two and won a penalty which they converted, taking them into the break only seven points adrift.
Things got worst immediately from the kick off, McKlintock gathered well, turned his back to the advancing Stourbridge players, leant back into the pressure and presented the ball. Somehow it was lost to the opposition, gathered by their scrum half Morris who, much to the bewilderment of both players and spectators alike, scampered around the back into the blindside and then ran unopposed the thirty yards to the line. This galvanised what had seemed to be a slightly dejected Stourbridge side and shocked Southend who struggled to regain their momentum thereafter.
A further converted try and successful penalty increased the Stourbridge points tally to 18. Southend could only reply with a 70 minute try from Powell and were unable to improve.
The final score of 15 – 18 to Stourbridge was a big disappointment for Southend who despite earning one bonus point were unable to improve their league position of 12th and are consequently losing ground on the top ten.
Birmingham & Solihull visit next week, they were relegated from National 1 last season, but have won 7 from 9 so far this season and lay 3rd in the league and so Southend will need to refocus if they want to win this one.
The signs are there with two much improved performances but we need to complete the job.
Alan Grace
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