THE prolific Colin Smith so nearly earned Cleobury Mortimer a point at Veseyans in North Midlands One but they suffered their first league defeat of the season 12-10.

Fly-half Smith wriggled free to score a try close to injury-time but agonisingly narrowly missed the conversion.

Cleobury went in search of the elusive winning penalty only to eventually be knocked down to third in the table due to wins for Solihull and Worcester.

Facing an injury crisis at hooker with Rob Kirton, Andrew Davies and Matthew Barnsley out, Jon Banford stepped into the breach.

But visiting Cleobury, also without Ian King and Julian Harding, settled quickest in an even first half with the pack providing a platform.

Pressure was not converted into points and when skipper Colin Todd dived over, Smith missed the conversion to leave the game poised at 5-0.

A substitution and tactical switch allowed Veseyans to come out of the blocks at pace in the second period.

They fought through stout defending to grab two tries and a vital conversion which Smith was unable to match despite his late try.

Cleobury Mortimer 2nds 5 Clee Hill 47

Cleobury scrambled a team together after a lunch-time recruitment drive but collapsed to strong opposition.

Clee Hill, assisted by the slope, failed to score for the first 15 minutes but then established a massive 42-0 lead by half-time.

Jon Bodenham came on for the injured Alan Woodhouse to galvanise Cleobury, driving and tackling strongly.

The visitors added another try but New Zealander Dean Anderson grabbed a consolation.