WORCESTER Wanderers out-scored Bournville by three tries to two, but still suffered a 21-19 defeat in a competitive Midlands One West clash at Weston’s Fields.

The hosts dominated the early stages, but failed to take advantage of two penalty opportunities, which were pushed narrowly wide by Carl Buffery.

Bournville struck first with a well-taken penalty, before a missed tackle in midfield saw the visiting centre split the defence and score near the posts.

From the re-start, Wanderers’ pressure forced Bournville into errors, while the home side built the phases and remained patient.

A midfield surge by Chris Griffiths created a half-gap and he found Simon James, who was tackled just short of the line, but popped the ball to the supporting Tim Ohlson, who touched down unopposed under the posts. Buffery converted.

The game ebbed and flowed, but it was Bournville who converted two penalties to take a nine-point lead into half-time.

Wanderers began the second-half well and James Price, on for the injured Ally McLaughlin, made an immediate impact as he attacked the Bournville midfield.

Chris Jenkinson was called back with the line at his mercy when the referee adjudged Paul Burtons’ pass to be forward.

Wanderers applied more pressure and, with numbers out wide on the right, took the wrong option as Burtons’ grubber-kick went over the dead-ball line.

Buffery narrowly missed a penalty attempt and Price split the Bournville defence again, but his off-load only found Bournville’s Rob Sigley, who put in a deft kick to take play into the Wanderers’ 22.

A penalty against Wanderers for crossing gave Bournville field position near the try-line and they took full advantage to rumble over in the corner.

Trailing 21-7, all looked lost for Wanderers, but they came storming back, creating space for Jenkinson on the left, who took full advantage to round his opposite number and cut back inside the full-back to score under the posts. Buffery added the extras.

Wanderers continued to stretch the tiring Bournville defence and finally created an opportunity for Sam Carter to show good strength and force himself over in the corner. Buffery pushed the difficult conversion wide.

From the re-start, Griffiths was yellow-carded for entering the ruck from the side and Wanderers played out the last eight minutes with 14 men.

The hosts continued to look threatening, but they couldn’t find that moment of inspiration to cap their fine fightback.