TENBURY Rugby Club supremo Andy Black says the club spirit re-instilled by new captain Ben James is the reason behind the Penlu side’s sparkling start to the season.

The Worcester Road men endured a nightmare 2017-18 campaign that culminated in relegation to the bottom rung of league rugby, Midlands Five West North.

But Saturday’s 66-3 mauling of Stourport continued Tenbury’s unbeaten free-scoring start to this campaign and Black – chairman and coach at the club – paid tribute to the new captain’s impact.

He said: “We didn’t quite expect the results to come so quickly but the club spirit has really returned under the leadership of Ben.

“We have had one or two new players but it’s virtually the same nucleus of last season’s squad. But the spirit is there again now, both on and off the field.

“We have built a good atmosphere and we think we can bounce straight back up. To do that you need good preparation and good foundations in the clubhouse, which we have.”

Tenbury now take a break from league rugby until a November 17 trip to title rivals Warley – who have also started with a 100 per cent record.

This Saturday, they visit Midlands Four side Claverdon in the last 16 of the Midlands Junior Vase, with Black targeting a surprise despite key absentees.

He added: “We are missing Ben and Alex James due to commitments outside the club so we have to go there as a squad and prove ourselves.

“We went to Claverdon last season with a weakened side and lost but things are very different this year – I don’t see why we can’t give them a run for their money and maybe cause an upset.”

Tenbury actually fell behind against Stourport on Saturday, trailing to an early penalty, but once Callum Spires scored under the posts on 15 minutes, they never looked back.

Jon Hitchings broke from the base of a scrum to feed Spires for his second try shortly after, Zac Thompson converting both tries.

A yellow card reduced Stourport to 14 men and Tenbury capitalised, kicking the penalty down the line and, from the line-out, the ball was moved quickly for Hobie Gill to score in the corner.

Thompson broke from the base of a ruck to score and converted his own try before adding another conversion when Gill broke a number of tackles to score under the posts.

An unconverted Ben Spires try made it 38-3 at the break and straight from the second-half kick-off, Gill raced from his own half, again breaking several tackles, to sprint in between the sticks.

Greg Powell scored a quickfire double, both converted by Thompson, before a Paddy Waite try and a Claude Celton conversion rounded off the scoring.

Black classed it as the side’s most complete display so far, adding: “We have had some convincing wins this season but not played well. On Saturday it all clicked together.

“There were some really good passages of rugby. It was the best squad performance this season.”