Hope springs eternal for in-form Pershore (From Worcester News)

Hope springs eternal for in-form Pershore

9:50am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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PERSHORE’S prolific number eight Martin Hope took his tally to 20 tries for the season in his side’s hard-fought 25-15 win against a well-drilled Shipston-on-Stour at Piddle Park in Midlands Three West (South).

The Vale side need three wins from their remaining four games to guarantee promotion.

Good approach play by the hosts’ Matt Harwood set up fellow winger Stefan Ellis for the opening score.

After 10 minutes, the Shipston fly-half chipped the ball deep into Pershore territory where full-back Damian Hanson, who was out of position, could not deal with the threat.

The visitors’ centre pounced to cross the line unopposed for a converted try, which gave his side the lead.

The superior home scrum then pushed Shipston off their own ball and Hope crashed over from the base.

However, Shipston replied with their winger getting on the end of an overlap to score in the corner.

The kick was missed, but a later penalty extended the visitors’ lead to 15-10 at half-time.

After the break, the Piddle Parkers’ forwards continued to dominate.

Despite working hard to turn Pershore over while defending under their posts, Shipston paid for their ambition as one too many passes allowed Matt Cyphus to intercept and coast over from five metres out. Fly-half Will Woodhouse converted.

Pershore skipper Adrian Hanson then gambled by instructing Woodhouse to go for the corner when his side won a kickable penalty.

The risk paid off handsomely, though, as Redman found Widmer from the line-out. The driving maul rumbled over the whitewash and Hope emerged from the bottom of the pile for his second try.

Woodhouse missed the conversion, but did extend Pershore’s lead to 10 points a few minutes from time with a well-struck penalty.