Evesham 21pts, Redditch 14

EVESHAM started the new season with some key changes to the club's management structure.

Jeff Hawkins has taken charge of the first team with the help of deputy captain Ian Hurley. The new incumbent will be working in conjunction with new team manager Allyn Cross, and coaches Doug Payne and Bill Hurley.

This expands on the coaching team which will better support new training regimes and encourage new match strategies.

Without being too presumptive it seems these changes have had their desired effect as on Saturday Evesham showed an improved level of team attitude and control to beat last year's victors of this encounter.

Evesham kicked off following Redd-itch's decision to play with the strong downfield wind and both teams set out at a high pace with well-contested rucking the main feature of the first quarter.

Set-play was split between the teams with Redditch winning more scrummage ball with a heavier pack, and the Evesham second row pair of John Nuttel and Michael Barnes securing the majority of line-out ball.

Playing into the wind, Evesham chose to keep the ball tight and re-cycle possession to gain territory and they were soon rewarded with a penalty within range of the visitors' posts. Rick Tay-lor obliged to give Evesham the first points.

Redditch soon replied with a breakaway try from the fly half, who eluded too many would-be tacklers and score close to the posts.

Evesham maintained their composure and strategy again working their way upfield through forward surges and defending effectively when the visitors gained possession.

This approach again paid dividends when full back Oreschnick charged in for Evesham's first try.

The ball was secured by the forwards in the Redditch 22 and fed wide for Oreschnick to score in the corner.

Redditch replied yet again with a breakaway try down the blindside of a scrum. This time the full-back managed to evade his tackler and sprint in from the halfway line making the first half score 14-8 in the visitors' favour.

The second half proved to be almost an entirely different game as Evesham took control. Turning round with the wind at their backs they grew in confidence and produced a team performance to be proud of.

Following the kick-off, Evesham re-cycled and secured possession of the ball, effectively starving Redditch of any offensive play.

Winger Simon Beard made the first breach of the try line, again as a result of playing expansive rugby in the oppositions half. And pressure soon started to tell as Redditch gave another kickable penalty away.

Taylor converted to give Evesham a 16-14 lead going into the final quarter.

The final quarter was played out in the Redditch 22, with several blindside moves ending with scrum half Gary Diston dancing his way through making the final score 21-14.

The score was a fair reflection of a well-contested game which proved Evesham have the initiative to take forward to Saturday's match when they visit Keresley in the first round of the NPI Cup.