WORCESTER Wanderers kept pace with the Midlands One West leading pack after a 48-12 home beating of Crewe and Nantwich.

Promoted Crewe had enjoyed a good start to the season with three wins and travelled to Worcester for the first meeting between the clubs.

But Wanderers moved above them to third in the table after comfortably picking up their fourth victory from the first five matches.

The opening exchanges resembled a boxing match as both sides searched for each other’s strengths and weaknesses with play revolving around the half-way line.

That changed in the 14th minute when Wanderers controlled a five-metre attacking scrum and Lee Watson combined with Greg Fincher to send Olly Meadows over for the opening try, which he duly converted.

Both sides missed kick-able penalties before Meadows benefitted again from Fincher’s sleight of hand in the 37th minute to crash over for his second try but the conversion attempt glanced off a post.

The second-half saw Wanderers’ set-piece give them a measure of control and a sweeping move took Mike Dodge within a few metres of the try line before a tackle stopped his progress.

Dodge, however, slipped a pass inside for the supporting James Aston to score and Meadows converted.

Crewe came roaring back and exerted pressure in the Wanderers 22.

A defensive kick was run back by the enterprising visitors’ full-back, who, despite the close attention of Aston, found his centre with a pass for a try out wide.

But Wanderers enjoyed the territorial advantage and their fair share of possession.

They surged downfield and Jake Saddington went on the blind side from an attacking scrum.

Despite being tackled short of the line, he popped a pass for the supporting James Priddey to run in unopposed and Meadows converted.

Three more quick tries followed with Wanderers’ Sam Carter taking a pass from Watson and carrying three would-be Crewe tacklers over the line to score.

Following a fine try in response from Crewe, the hosts’ Callum Partridge intercepted from the restart and ran in from 45 metres.

Meadows converted both Worcester tries and kicked a penalty in the same spell.

Crewe continued to search for tries but Wanderers’ defence held firm.

In the final play of the game, Saddington capped a man-of-the-match performance with a try from a push-over scrum and Meadows again added the extras.

Wanderers visit Stoke, who have won two games and lost three, on Saturday in the league.