Rugby union
Pershore give themselves hope

Pershore 19 Leamington 14

Midlands Two West (South)

PERSHORE gave themselves hope in their battle for survival with an excellent win in glorious sunshine at Piddle Park on Saturday.

The victory lifts them level on points with Cheltenham North at the foot of the table and within five points of Kidderminster and Upton-on-Severn with three matches remaining.

Pershore now face a crucial clash at Upton tomorrow and know the outcome will be pivotal as defeat would almost certainly consign them to the drop but victory would breathe even greater life into their fight to clinch safety, with Kidderminster still to visit Piddle Park on April 14.

The hosts made a fine start on Saturday as No 8 Martin Hope made a break in the middle of the park and, in taking contact, he offloaded to skipper Karl Evans who in turn popped the ball to scrum half Alex Hanson who was then tackled a few metres short of the line.

Evans was then on hand again to take a short pass from hooker Ben Humphries to stretch over the line and open the scoring, although fly half Matt Cyphus missed the conversion.

The tussle remained in the middle of the park with the Pershore pack dominating the set piece but the Leamington backline looking dangerous in possession.

After a prolonged period of pressure the visitors got on the scoresheet late in the first half when they exploited a gap out wide to score and the conversion was added to give Leamington a 7-5 half time lead.

The second half started with the home side in control and yet another beak between Hope and Hanson in the middle of the park set speedster Stefan Ellis off to score under the posts and Cyphus converted.

Soon afterwards Pershore extended their lead when full back Andy Jenkinson joined the attack after another Ellis break to finish off an impressive sequence of play and Cyphus was again successful with the kick at goal.

A converted Leamington score made for a nerve-wracking final ten minutes but the Pershore defence remained resolute and earned a well deserved victory.

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