Silhillians 17pts, Pershore 14 SATURDAY wasn't the first time this season that Pershore travelled away from home and threw away a game that they should have won comfortably!

Only points difference separated the old foes in the Midlands Three West (South) standings prior to their latest clash but the visitors made the worst possible start when Sils scored the opening try inside the first minute.

It was a hard slog up the slope but Pershore managed to take control of the game. And, after sustained pressure, the home side were reduced to 14 men when their flanker was sin-binned for handling in the ruck and Pershore were awarded a penalty that Robin Haines dragged wide.

However, the visitors didn't have to wait long to get on to the scoresheet. Scrum-half Adrian Hanson made a sniping run from the back of a ruck and just managed to squeeze his slight frame over the line.

Full back Lee Riley added the conversion for a 7-5 lead and, with their set-piece functioning well, the forwards were in command.

Hooker Jameson Lane took a few scrums against the head and the whole pack ensured that the Pershore scrum was as solid as a rock.

Another long period camped near the Home line resulted in another Pershore score. Number 8 Toby Grace won the ball at the back of the line-out from where prop Alex Peel took the ball on only to be stopped just short of the line.

However, the ball was quickly whipped out by Hanson and Haines put centre James Martin in under the posts to score. Riley again added the conversion to give Pershore a 14-5 lead.

The home side's reply was swift as they took advantage of some missed tackles to double their points tally with a second try of the afternoon.

The second half was almost the opposite of the first with Pershore again dominating the scrum but their opponents using the driving maul to good effect as much of the half was played in Pershore territory. The Piddle Parkers defending was heroic at times with Luke Eversham and Lane stopping near certain tries.

After a good 15 minutes camped on their own line it seemed that Pershore were out of the woods when they were awarded a scrum for a knock-on.

The ball was hooked back in the scrum but was not controlled and a home flanker reacted quickest and the conversion made it 17-14.

Pershore did have a chance to win the game at the death when captain Martin Hope made a break from his own 22. The ball went through a few pairs of hands and it seemed that James Martin would have the legs to carry himself over the line but was tackled agonisingly short.

Pershore are in league action again on Saturday when they entertain Old Laurentians.

Midlands Three West (South) P W D L F A Pts Hereford 17 15 0 2 506 143 30 Old Laurentians 16 14 0 2 482 165 28 Stratford 16 12 0 4 498 251 24 Nuneaton OEs 17 12 0 5 411 264 24 Silhillians 17 10 0 7 345 231 20 Pershore 16 9 0 7 347 324 18 Earlsdon 16 9 0 7 253 304 18 Bedworth 17 5 1 11 246 418 11 Leamington 16 5 0 11 207 382 10 Edwardians 17 4 0 13 238 401 8 Ledbury 17 2 1 14 183 469 5 Old Coventrians 16 1 0 15 128 492 2