Kings Norton 12

Stourport 18

KINGS Norton coach Ian Jackson took the opportunity to have a look at a number of players on the fringe of the first team in this friendly against North Midlands Two side Stourport.

Jackson rested nine players from the win against Woodrush last week and from the kick off Stourport settled quickly and scored an unconverted try from their first attack.

The Ash Lane squad quickly replied through fly-half Barry Scrymagour who also completed the conversion.

Stourport played controlled rugby and kept the Hopwood side's pack under pressure throughout the first half but were unable to break the Kings defence.

Kings full back Nick Thompson kicked through for debutante winger Ian Snape to score in the corner for his team to go in at the break seven points to the good.

But the Hopwood-based team struggled after the break as the visitors used the strong wind to their advantage.

Stourport seized on a mistake deep into Kings territory to score their second try which was converted and followed this up with a penalty.

Looking for a winning score captain Pete May almost turned the game around when he entered the fray, replacing Matt Eagles in the centre for the last 10 minutes.

May injected flair and urgency into his strangely lethargic side but despite a couple of promising attacks time ran out.

Kings Norton entertain higher league opposition Yardlians on Saturday.