DROITWICH Rugby Club stay top of the league after a good effective team performance -- but they will be worried about the number of penalties given away.

They started brightly on a playing surface holding some water but in remarkably good condition despite the recent weather.

Good work at the lineout by lock Ian Craig enabled Droitwich to exert some pressure, although some handling errors prevented this being turned into points.

Droitwich were under a lot of pressure in the scrummage, preventing the home backs from producing any fluidity.

Young Droitwich fly-half Dean Evans handled the ball especially well to clear his lines after a period of pressure by Cleobury.

After 25 minutes a good run by prop Paul Bowditch, well backed up by Jon Andrews and Nick Godfrey, gave the Droitwich backs the chance to attack the blind side and a strong jinking run by full-back Sascha Hobbs cut the Cleobury defence in two and he scored in the corner. Scrum half Matt Blackmore was unable to convert.

More pressure by the Droitwich pack, who improved as the game went on, enabled Blackmore to slot home a difficult 40-yard penalty.

Just before half time Blackmore kicked a second penalty to make it 11-0.

The second half was mistake-ridden with Cleobury trying to run the ball back at Droitwich, but good defence kept them at bay. For Droitwich, Jamie Faulkener went close, and an excellent break by Dave Mann would have been rewarded with a score had his support reacted quicker.

Cleobury scored ten minutes from time, but it was too late to affect the result.