AFTER their confidence boosting win over South Leicester the previous week, Tynedale seemed well set to end their away day hoodoo in the Black Country on Saturday.

They were well on top for much of the first half against Stourbridge, and held the lead for the best part of half an hour.

But then, as had happened so often this season, the wheels came off, and they crashed to their 17th successive away defeat, conceding seven tries without adding to their own score.

Had Stourbridge fly half Chris Scott not had an off day with the boot, landing just two of eight kicks at goal, the result could have been seriously embarrassing.

It’s a sobering fact that Tynedale have won just seven of their last 50 away games.

What’s worse is that it‘s difficult to see where their next successful away day will come from.

They continue to teeter one place above the drop zone, and the ignominy of a second successive relegation.

There were some good points, particularly in the first half, when winger Ollie Walker had a very encouraging seasonal debut.

Number eight Scott Powell was again outstanding and his back row colleague Nick Cairns never stopped running, until he was forced off with a knock to the shoulder.

It was also good to see winger Ben Duncan back amongst the tries after a long spell away from the game

Tynedale‘s cause wasn’t helped when full back Rob Parker picked up a yellow card after clashing with Stourbridge winger Ashley Elvers.

After a slow start to the season, Stourbridge have hit a rich vein of form, with the scalp of early season pacesetters Sedgley Park already dangling from the lodge pole at Stourton Park.

Tynedale started brightly, securing good early possession, which saw the ball worked out to the right wing for Duncan to roll back the years with a fine unconverted try on eight minutes.

Stourbridge responded well, and after a knock-on had thwarted one promising effort, full back Rod Petty grabbed the equalising try.

Tynedale continued to have the edge in terms of possession, drawing a series of penalties from the home side, two of which were converted by centre Ash Smith to give the visitors an 11-5 lead after 25 minutes.

Sadly, that was as good as it got for Tynedale, as the boys from the Black Country took complete control of the game.

On the half hour, flanker Nigel Mukarati, making his 101st appearance for Stour powered over, with fly half Chris Scott converting to make it 12 - 11,

With the half time whistle imminent, a patient build-up through a well-executed set of phases saw flanker Joe Carpenter blast through Tynedale’s stretched defence to make it 17-11 at the break.

Lock forward Chris Depper secured the bonus point try via a well-executed catch and drive lineout drill early in the second half. The lead was extended soon after as hooker Billy Harding set up Mukarati’s second try.

After his spell in the sin bin Elvers grabbed the next try as gaps appearing in the tiring Tynedale defence.

A late Tynedale revival was snuffed out, and in the dying minutes, replacement threequarter Joe Bridger dotted down the final try.