Stourbridge Lions 16

Kings Norton 14

THE Kings men's unbeaten record was chewed up and spat out by Stourbridge Lions in an epic battle at Stourton Park.

Without three first team regulars, Kings Norton went behind inside five minutes after a well-taken Stourbridge penalty and were six down before ten minutes with the Lion's kicker in superior form.

But straight for the restart, Norton got their first points of the afternoon after a powerful drive by Russell Gauden linking with Richard Revill split the Lions defence, setting up winger Matt James to break the line before timing his pass for John Hefford to dive in the corner.

Kings kicker Ken Whitehouse then calmly took three points from a penalty to put his side into a small lead after 20 minutes before the home side ran in their first try of the afternoon three minutes later.

Minutes before the interval, Gauden was again infringed after a quick-tap penalty giving Whitehouse the perfect opportunity to reduce the Kings Norton arrears to 13-11 at the break.

Stourbridge came out after half-time on top and stretched their lead from another penalty conceded by Kings Norton.

Whitehouse then brought the visitors within two points with a penalty score.

But two more ambitious penalty attempts from Whitehouse came up just short for the Ash Lane outfit who will be looking to get back to winning ways at home to Woodrush on Saturday.