Rugby union
Impressive Evesham are looking the part

Buy photos » Evesham's Clive Smart takes command of a lineout at Ledbury. Picture by Roland Bailey. (s)

Ledbury 22 Evesham 29

Midlands Three West (South)

EVESHAM withstood a late rally from Ledbury on Saturday to extend their winning start to the league campaign to four matches.

The visitors took an early lead when the Ledbury players were deemed to be in front of the kicker and full back Mike Diston took a quick penalty, selling a dummy for the first score which was converted for a 7-0 lead.

The hosts responded and pressure from the kick-off led to a penalty which was kicked deep into the Evesham half. The resulting catch and drive was successful and an unconverted try left the score at 7-5.

The Evesham back line made good headway and strong running from the likes of Huckvale, Dziczkaniece and Alex Jackson on the wing gave good field position.

Ledbury eventually succumbed to the pressure and gave away a penalty directly in front which Diston converted to make it 10-5.

Evesham let their guard down again, however, and even the hard work of Webb, Garrett and Chambers in the back row could not prevent a Ledbury score which was converted for 12-10.

Evesham's wide men continued to threaten with both Jackson and Zac Reid making ground and it was the latter who latched on to a Huckvale kick through to continue his scoring form and touch down under the posts before Diston converted to give Evesham a 17-12 lead at the break.

The second half began as a territorial battle and it was a good Evesham lineout spearheaded by Stuart and Clive Smart which enabled Corbett to release the ball to Reid who beat three Ledbury players from within his own 22m line to touch down in the corner and Diston smartly converted for a 24-12 lead.

Evesham maintained the pressure and solid rucking from the likes of Gazey, Lippett, Stock and Goggin enabled scrum half Darren Hunter to kick ahead and gather just in time to make it three tries in two games and send Evesham into a 29-12 lead.

From here Evesham appeared to take their foot off the gas and a fired-up Ledbury applied the pressure. With Evesham reduced to 14 men they eventually found space and a converted try took the score to 29-19, but after this the Evesham defence held firm and only conceded a late penalty to finish the game fairly comfortable winners with another bonus point.

Second placed Evesham have 19 points from four matches and return to league action at home to fellow high-flyers Kings Norton on October 20.

Tomorrow they have a North Midlands Shield second round encounter at home to Old Saltleians.

Regional sport »