WORCESTER Wanderers were edged out by two points in their league clash with Cleobury Mortimer.

They eventually went down 15-13 to slip below Cleobury to fifth in the table.

Wanderers looked like they were cruising when they notched their first score after a fine passage of play between the backs.

The final pass went to full back Dan Sparrey who sprinted in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Cleobury then raised their backs game and, following a chip over the Wanderers defence, winger James Manley ran in his unconverted try to level the scores at 5-5.

Stand-off Alan Shields then ran in a try to give the visitors the lead.

Wanderers had several opportunities but either spilled the ball, were forced into touch or turned over within yards of the Cleobury try-line.

But heavy Worcester pressure eventually led to a tricky penalty, which was sweetly kicked by stand-off Joph Young to bring Wanderers to within a converted try at 15-8.

Scrum-half Tim Fincher set Young off and he passed to Sparrey, whose well-timed pass drew the defender to give wing Jim Callow the space to dash for a narrow gap and score in the corner. Young missed the conversion from a very tight angle.

Despite resolute effort by the Worcester team, Cleobury desperately clung on to their meagre lead until the final whistle.