Pershore 26pts, Keresley 30

SATURDAY'S match was possibly Pershore's worst league performance of the season.

Even taking account of a few late cry-offs, there was still enough quality in the team to have won the game.

Pershore started the stronger and spent the first quarter in the Keresley half, but failed to capitalise on their possession.

It took a glorious break from Robin Haines to ignite the Pershore backs and a long pass saw Steve Holmes hit the ball flat out and score in the corner.

Keresley hit back instantly as their hugely influential fly- half pegged Pershore back with his booming kicks which brought a line-out close to the line.

The resulting try from a catch and dive, which was also converted gave them the lead.

From the kick-off, Keresley pressed forward and, from a ruck, the fly-half kicked over a terrific dropped goal.

The second half was strange, in the first part Pershore went completely to sleep, two simple errors and Keresley scored another two converted tries, which seemingly took them out of sight.

Pershore, though, got back into the game when the forwards began to pick up and drive at the opposition and Lewis Dolphin finally went over with Haines converting.

Once again a lapse in concentration gave possession away and a speedy winger touched down.

With time rapidly running out, Damian Hanson broke down the wing and the always supporting Blair Hunter took the inside pass and touched down. Haines again converted.

Straight from the kick-off, a quick ruck gave Adrian Hanson the narrowest of gaps to exploit and he hared down the wing and outpaced the covering defence to score.

The last two minutes was all Pershore, desperately trying to win this game, but unfortunately it was too little too late.

Midlands Three West (South)

P W D L F A Pts

Nun OEs 17 16 0 1 578 168 32

Old Covs 17 14 0 3 503 257 28

Ledbury 17 13 0 4 390 301 26

Silhillians 17 12 0 5 436 183 24

Pershore 17 9 0 8 318 277 18

Keresley 17 7 0 10 249 338 14

Southam 17 6 0 11 240 350 12

Old Leams 17 6 0 12 223 424 10

Bmg Exiles 17 3 0 14 210 455 6

Evesham 17 0 0 17 185 579 0

A depleted second string won 17-15 at Stourport with only desperate defence saving Pershore from defeat.

Newcomer Dave Long scored in the corner to give Pershore the lead but Stourport levelled before the break with a try of their own.

Second row Alf Beard notched the score of the match after a string of outrageous dummies and a conversion from Ben Humphries made it 12-5.

Another fresh face, Justin Shaw, added a third try only for Stourport to twice touch down and set up a tense finale that only dogged defending allowed Pershore to claim a win.

Carl Redman and Rob Matt-hews produced fine displays in what will hopefully be the beginning of a long and fruitful career at Piddle Park.