Sat 11 Apr 2026
Stourbridge 52-17 Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth RFC signed off their league campaign with a bruising defeat at Stourton Park, as local rivals Stourbridge RFC underlined their promotion credentials with a clinical second-half display to run out
52–17 winners. With the final league fixture serving as a prelude to the looming promotion and relegation play-offs, there was a sense of occasion both on and off the pitch. Bridgnorth were warmly hosted pre-match, President Alf Edwards overseeing a full dining room, but the hospitality did not extend beyond kick-off.
Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the opening half, Bridgnorth made a purposeful start. The conditions immediately played their part, holding up the Stourbridge kick-off, and from the resulting possession Paddy Smallman sliced through the defensive line.
Matt Needham, playing at fly-half, followed with a well-judged kick to pin the hosts back deep in their own half. Despite that early pressure, it was Stourbridge who struck first. Demonstrating the attacking threat that would define their afternoon, their backs moved the ball swiftly from first phase, creating space for the right winger to finish in the corner. Bridgnorth responded with composure. A scrum penalty allowed Elliot Murphy to open their account from the tee, and when Stourbridge were penalised again, the visitors kicked to the corner. Although the initial lineout was lost, a moment of hesitation in the home defence proved costly. Adam Ellis reacted sharply to gather the loose ball and delivered an excellent wide pass to Jack Cole, who finished well on the left. Murphy added a fine conversion to edge Bridgnorth into the lead.
For a spell, Bridgnorth looked well in the contest. Their defensive set held firm under sustained pressure, but handling errors began to creep in at crucial moments. One such turnover handed momentum back to Stourbridge, who capitalised with a forward-driven, converted try after a prolonged spell of possession. The visitors’ challenge was compounded by disruption in the pack. Hooker Malachi Stuffins was forced off, with Ellis stepping into the front row, before Smallman also departed with a shoulder injury. As Bridgnorth reorganised, Stourbridge’s confidence grew, and their backs again found space through the midfield to extend their lead with another converted score. Yet Bridgnorth refused to fade. When Stourbridge kicked ahead, Cole produced a moment of individual brilliance - fielding cleanly before kicking on and outpacing the cover defence to score a superb second try. Murphy’s touchline conversion brought the score back to 19–17, keeping the contest finely balanced.
There was still time for one more surge before the interval.
Bridgnorth retained possession from the restart, and Dan Brough produced an outstanding 50:22 to swing territory back in their favour, only for the opportunity to be halted by a crooked lineout throw. A series of attritional phases followed from both sides before the half-time whistle confirmed the narrow deficit. Despite the scoreboard, the underlying pattern was beginning to favour the hosts.
Stourbridge’s size and physicality, combined with the pace afforded by the artificial surface, consistently stretched the Bridgnorth defence.
Their well-drilled backline and dangerous runners - particularly from deep - posed questions that would only become harder to answer.
The second half proved decisive. While Bridgnorth continued to show commitment and work rate, urged on by Ed Taylor, the contest slipped away as Stourbridge took control. Five unanswered tries followed, some originating from first-phase possession, exposing defensive lapses that the hosts punished ruthlessly. When Bridgnorth did manage to build phases, they were met by an aggressive and organised defensive line that forced errors and denied them any route back into the game.
The final act - a pushover try from the Stourbridge pack - aptly summed up the second-half dominance, the conversion stretching the score to 52–17 at the final whistle.
The result confirmed a third-place finish for Stourbridge and a place in the promotion play-offs, where they will face Newport. They also became only the second side this season, after Newent, to complete a league double over Bridgnorth. For Bridgnorth, the defeat brings the curtain down on a campaign that ultimately yielded a seventh-place finish, built on twelve wins, one draw and nine losses - five of those defeats coming with a losing bonus point. It is a record that reflects both resilience and inconsistency, a season in which competitive performances were at times, undermined by fine margins.
Attention now turns to the future. The club now has the opportunity to build for next season, although they will have to do so with several changes to personnel. In that context, this final outing - competitive for a half but ultimately overpowered - serves as a reminder of the standards required at the top end of the table, and the work to be done ahead of next season.
