Nuneaton Old Edwardians 23pts, Evesham 17

EVESHAM were unlucky not to win Saturday's hard fought Midlands West Three (South) league game on Saturday after producing a good all-round team performance.

Playing up the slight slope Evesham didn't make the greatest of starts when the home side scored an unconverted try following a missed tackle in the Evesham 22.

This didn't lead to the opening of the floodgates but instead spurred the visitors into action and some good tactical kicking from half backs Phil Parsons and Chris Evis put OEs under pressure in their own half for some reasonable periods.

Evesham's line-out was proving problematic with Carl Cole their only recognised jumper struggling to get the better of two good opposing jumpers.

Against the run of play the hosts scored a second try again following a missed tackle just outside the Evesham 22.

Trailing 12-0 Evesham continued to press and almost scored a try in the corner when winger Paul Turpitt put second row Ben Whatmore into space but he was unable to find the following support with his pass.

With just minutes of the half remaining Doug Payne burst off his wing into the centre and slipped a pass to centre Rick Taylor, who stepped inside the covering defence and sprinted in from the 22 to score a fine try with Parsons converting.

Turning round five points adrift Evesham were full of desire for their first league win for some time but luck was not on their side as OEs scored a fortunate try when their winger got a very favourable bounce of the ball following a speculative kick through which took the ball away from full back Tom Arc-her.

Shortly after the try, flanker Jeff Howkins left the field with an ankle injury to be replaced by Wayne Brotherton, who joined a back row that included No 8 Chris Hurley and Neil Robinson.

Both were performing well but it was Hurley whose barraging runs lifted Evesham's spirits to the extent that they got themselves back into the game thanks to a second try from Taylor.

This time Payne slipped a pass back inside from the wing to Taylor who broke a tackle before outpacing the cover.

Again Parsons converted and then added a penalty to bring Evesham to within three points at 20-17. Parsons then saw another longer range penalty attempt drop short.

With only a few minutes remaining Evesham conceded a penalty, which was converted to give Nuneaton a six-point lead, but this didn't deter Evesham's try scoring efforts in the dying minutes.

Evesham travel to Veseyans on Saturday for a non-league fixture.