Rugby union
Pershore claim maximum spoils

Old Wheatleyans 24 Pershore 31

Midlands Three West (South)

PERSHORE clinched a bonus point victory in Saturday's encounter although they were given a few scares along the way by their determined hosts.

The visitors were out of the blocks quickly and used their heavier pack to good effect.

After some industrious work at the scrum and hard running in the centre by Steve Holmes, enough room was created for winger Stefan Ellis to score under the posts and the try was converted by Scott Williams.

The home team responded with a very well taken try of their own which was also converted to level the score and soon afterwards Old Wheatleyans took a 12-7 lead after a loose pass in the Pershore midfield was intercepted.

This spurred on the Pershore ball carriers and Martin Hope responded with a move straight from the training ground.

Matt Cyphus made a break from fly half and delayed the pass enough for Hope to take on at blistering pace on the halfway line and the home full back was left with too much to do as Hope crashed over for a try, converted again by Williams.

Just before the break Pershore's quick-thinking winger Ashley White took a throw in at a lineout and hooker Ben Humphries cantered over for an unconverted try to give Pershore a half time lead.

Old Wheatleyans pulled level soon after half time with a pushover try from a driving lineout and then took the lead after some sustained pressure as Pershore struggled for ten minutes to clear their lines.

At 24-19 up Old Wheatleyans were firmly in control and had a chance to extend their lead further when their centre made a break.

He only had Pershore full back Damian Hanson to beat but Hanson made a game-changing tackle to thwart the attack.

Hanson was then instrumental as Pershore pulled level. Making a break from his own 22, he carried the ball to the halfway line and then passed to Ellis in support on his inside shoulder and nobody was going to catch the Pershore speedster as he scored in the corner.

With Pershore back at full throttle, second row Scott Williams scored the decisive try which he then converted from out wide.

With the clock ticking down, Pershore were awarded a penalty close to the OWs' line. They opted for the scrum - an area they had dominated all afternoon - and the home forwards disintegrated in front of the Pershore scrum.

However, not for the first time this season, infringements went unpunished and it was in fact Pershore who gave a penalty away when many would argue they should have had a penalty try.

Within a few phases of play and silly penalties, Pershore were defending their own line, but some great defence from Alex Peel and Josh Hardiman kept the attacks at bay and Pershore held on for a well deserved victory.

Tomorrow Pershore, now up to sixth in the table, entertain Shrewsbury in the North Midlands Shield.

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