CLEOBURY Mortimer players were clearly looking forward to their summer deck chairs after a lacklustre 22-17 win at relegated Stoke Old Boys in Midlands Four West (South).

However, early attacks by the driving forwards put Cleobury in command and Colin Smith slotted over two easy penalties.

But in Stoke's first attack of the game, they scored a converted try after the visitors failed to back up skipper Wille Bache who had excellently charged down a drop goal.

A stunned Cleobury hit back with another Smith penalty but the writing was on the wall.

Careless play presented Stoke's fly-half with an interception and 60-metre dash to the line, giving them a 12-9 interval lead.

Cleobury improved in the second half but came up against a spirited home side.

Smith kicked an equaliser and then a series of attacks was finally finished off as Pete Howman picked up and stretched for the line between the posts for a converted try.

They stretched the lead with Smith's fifth penalty to put him close to 900 points for the club.

But Cleobury became complacent and conceded a try to Stoke's impressive Portuguese second-row to cut their lead to 22-17.

Stoke Old Boys 27

Cleobury Mortimer 2nds 29

Work commitments, holidays and illness prevented Cleobury fielding 15 men against strong opposition but appearances proved deceptive.

With Richard Skidmore making a welcome return after retiring, the visitors opened with a Kevin Shields penalty.

However, Stoke went 10-3 ahead before the turning point close to half-time when a home player was sin-binned for violent conduct.

An Alan Woodhouse try converted by Shields levelled the scores before Cleobury took the lead.

Paul Burrows stole the ball to dash away and the ever-present Chris Gittins eventually went under the posts for a converted score.

A second Gittins try put Cleobury 24-10 up in a fine turn-around.

Stoke brought on fresh legs and their wing-forward reduced the deficit with a second try.

However, Cleobury skipper Steve Phillips bulldozed his way over from a series of drives although Shields hit the conversion wide.

The visitors were visibly wilting in the heat but were determined to hang onto their 12-point lead.

Stoke reduced the score but surprisingly missed a good conversion chance to leave a tight score at 29-27 in Cleobury's favour.