DESPITE giving league leaders Stourbridge a 19-point head start, Lichfield were unlucky not to take more than two bonus points from the fixture.

The errors by the visiting Myrtle Greens side mounted up quickly at the start, including being out-fought in the collisions, a line-out not straight, a harsh yellow card on six minutes and a crucial dropped pass.

After tries for Joe Dunn, Liam Wordley and Archie Samuel, two of which were converted by Jack Teague, it looked like being a long afternoon for Lichfield.

But with some ball-in-hand, they started to make inroads into Stourbridge territory and it was no surprise when Ditch Burton made his way over the line from a driven maul, which Charlie Milner converted from the touchline.

Two more tries arrived before half-time from direct hard running. Burton’s offload to Freddie Wilson and Joe Bourne’s chip and chase both proved successful. With one more Milner conversion, it was back to 19-19.

There was, however, just enough time for the hosts to mount one last attack with multiple phases – and the defence could not prevent Jasper Smith stretching over despite a thumping tackle on him. Teague kicked his third conversion, to which he added one more later.

There was more of a hint of the wobbles from Lichfield in the early moments of the second period as Jake Kelly scored from short range to make it 33-19.

Back came Lichfield once more with plenty of purposeful running and safe, steady options being taken. Milner waltzed through a rather static defence to earn the first bonus point and more goal-line pressure produced a second for Burton.

The next try was questionable as Dan Rundle escaped up the touchline for the hosts. However, this was wiped out as Lichfield captain Kieran Reynolds plunged over from short range.

At 38-38 it was all to play for. The crucial attack went the league leaders' way late on with Teague picking the perfect line, which was once again unstoppable and that was victory for Stourbridge.