cAMBRIDGE 8, STOURBRIDGE 6 Stourbridge kicked-off their season with an unlucky defeat away at National League Two favourites and big spending Cambridge in a game dominated by rain and strong winds.

The conditions were never going to favour an open game but nerves and uncertain interpretations added to 80 minutes of closely fought territory.

The visitors won the toss and played the first half into the wind.

Cambridge failed to capitalise and it was not until the 14th minute that they were awarded a penalty when referee Brendan Fitzmaurice adjudged Stourbridge to have handled the ball on the floor.

Fly-half Ben Patston kicked the three points.

Neither side took control and seldom were the backs put into enough space to excite the crowd. However, after 37 minutes of play, Cambridge found themselves setting a driving maul in the left corner of the pitch. Despite strong defending and an unsighted referee, the touch judge intervened and Cambridge No 8, Dave Archer was credited with a try.

Patston's kick failed and Stour headed towards the half-time break feeling confident about the target.

Some good tackling by debut captain, Ben Gerry, gave an opportunity for territorial advantage but the ball was spilt by another player giving Cambridge wing, Kendall a chance to break back into the Stour half. In the meantime, the referee produced the first of two yellow cards and Simon Homer was sent to the touchline.

The second-half was very much a repeat of the first but, this time, Stour were on the score board after 15 minutes and Bressington scored his first three points of the season with a well taken penalty from about 40 metres out.

Five minutes later he launched the ball down the pitch, from a free kick.

Cambridge were penalised and his penalty saw the gap close to just two points.

However, he missed on a third and Cambridge took a short tap drop out from the 22 only to be penalised and offering the visitors a third penalty in quick succession.

This time Stour kicked for position only to lose the lineout and this appeared to be the turning point of the game.

Cambridge kicked No 8 charged through and the ball was kicked ahead.

The home side spent virtually all of the remaining minutes camped inside the Stour 22. Several penalties were conceded and, for the second time, a Stourbridge lock (Ben Hughes) was shown a yellow card and the visitors were down to 14-men.

Cambridge tried to seal the game with a series of scrums but the supposedly obsequious spirit of the seven men Stour pack never failed and their resolve won through, in the end, foiling several near push over tries and ending with a 22 metre drop out.

Some quick thinking by Tom Richardson and Ollie Grove saw Stour back inside the Cambridge half but time had run out.