A SLOW start cost Stourport seconds dear as they went down 31-22 at home to Worcester Wanderers.

It looked like it was going to be a rout when they found themselves trailing by 19 points early on, but they showed great character to stage a comeback, only to leave themselves with too much to do.

A mistake by the Worcester backs allowed captain Ed Osborn to kick through and score a try which was converted by Stu Wilson.

For the rest of the half, Stourport, led by mana of the match Richard Dorrell, played good rugby in the Worcester 22 but were unlucky not to score again.

Worcester started the second half well and added two tries and a coversion from two good backs moves on the rare occasions they had the ball.

Stourport drove back and Osborn was able to score his second in the corner which spurred the forwards on to greater efforts.

Les Pimm scored two pushover tries in the last ten minutes to set up an exciting finale.But unfortunately the damage inflicted in the first ten minutes was too great. On Saturday, the seconds are away at Dudley-Kingswinford.