Pershore 18pts, Stratford 22

SATURDAY resulted in another defeat for Pershore by one score or less - their fifth of a frustrating league campaign.

What made it all the more painful was that yet again the hosts were the superior side for the majority of the game.

The first half was one way-traffic with the hosts dominating possession and territory. The Piddle Park side put the visitors on the back foot after putting seven or eight phases of play together and they were soon rewarded when full back Sid Hirons wrongfooted a fragmented defence and touched down. James Martin converted.

Again concerted pressure on the visiting line culminated in a Martin penalty that extended Pershore's lead to ten points.

It all seemed too good but Pershore relaxed and paid the price for sloppy defending. Stratford kicked downfield and the defence failed to clear its lines and swift turnover ball led to the visiting side's big second rower crashing over.

This should only have been a blip but, for all their first half dominance, Pershore couldn't add any further points.

Stratford went on to dominate proceedings after the restart using their driving line-outs to good effect and beginning to turn on the power in the scrums and they were quickly rewarded with an unconverted try.

Pershore responded with another Martin penalty to take the lead and they saw most of the action in the final quarter only to again squander possession and more lacklustre defence allowed the visitors to regain the lead.

With the clock running down Pershore again took the lead when great running in the backs led to Robin Haines scoring a lovely try in the corner.

However, with only seconds remaining a stray kick out of defence gave Stratford possession.

The ball was sped wide to their captain and winger who took advantage of more weak tackling to touch down and secure a most unlikely win.

Midlands Three West (South)

P W D L F A Pts

Solihull 11 10 0 1 315 108 20

Silhillians 11 9 0 2 339 154 18

Stratford 11 9 0 2 276 166 18

Hereford 11 8 0 3 306 154 16

Nuneaton OE 11 6 0 5 245 194 12

Bedworth* 12 8 0 4 233 199 12

Earlsdon 11 5 0 6 191 21 10

Pershore 11 4 0 7 265 184 8

Old Covs 12 3 0 9 173 280 6

Old Leams 11 3 0 8 147 328 6

Keresley 10 0 0 10 61 268 0

Ledbury* 10 1 0 9 86 391 0

*Points deducted.