DROITWICH crashed out of the Powergen Junior Vase at the fifth round stage when they went down 33-19 at Manchester-based Aldwinians.

The home side were well drilled and workmanlike and went into an early lead with two penalties, which were then cancelled out by two similar efforts from Matt Blackmore.

Poor defence in the Droitwich backs allowed the home side to go into the lead with a converted score. The Spa hit back with a further Blackmore penalty to go into the interval 13-9 down. But crucially they found themselves a player light as Phil Horton was sent to the sin-bin.

Droitwich upped their work rate in the second period, however, with Will Bolton showing excellent pace to score a well-worked try which Blackmore converted.

Aldwinians, however, answered with two further scores of their own.

The referee seemed to get more whistle-happy as the game went on with four further players, two from each side, being sent to the sin-bin.

Droitwich only had themselves to blame for giving away a string of penalties, making it difficult to get any continuity into their play.

The visitors pulled a score back when skipper Nick Godfrey touched down after a line-out catch and drive, but ultimately the deficit could not be closed and Droitwich will see their exit as down to indiscipline and missed opportunities.