EFFORT and endeavour was not enough to save Stourbridge from a disappointing home defeat to Hull RUFC.

The hosts began the game top of National League Two North with a perfect record but met their match against gritty opposition.

The pattern of the game became clear early on with most the action in home territory, despite a probing early run by Stour's Joe Heatley.

The hosts defended well but struggled to retain possession as crunching tackles flew in.

They finally found some rhythm and put pressure in Hull's line and were rewarded on 20 minutes with a try for Jack Lea from a rolling maul which was converted by Chris Scott.

Hull looked to be set for a try when Stephen Johnson took a pass with nobody to beat but fumbled on five metres and Stour were off the hook.

On 29 minutes Hull registered three points from a penalty, more pressure bought a lineout on the Stour five metres and a driveover try for Latu Makaafi.

Neither side found further breakthroughs making the score 7-8 at half time.

From the restart Stour were again on the back foot until the 52nd minute when winger Dan Rundle collected in his own half and made a trademark jinking run down the left.

Good support came from Heatley, who made further ground before returning the ball to Rundle for an easy try under the posts which Scott converted.

The score prompted more urgency from both teams, a wounded Hull hit back hard and, despite stout home defending, eventually broke through for a try wide on the right from Reece Dean.

On 65 minutes Simon Humberstone slotted a vital penalty from distance to give Hull a slender lead as Stour again struggled to make significant territorial gains.

The hosts were penalised for wheeling the scrum and Humberstone was again on target with the penalty from distance.

Any hope of a late Stour recovery was squashed when Chad Thorne was sin-binned on 77 minutes and Hull saw out the rest of the game untroubled to claim a 14-19 victory.