Pershore II 53 pts, Ledbury II 20

IN ideal playing conditions Pershore took to the park with the confidence that comes from the knowledge that you have a fast mobile set of forwards and the backs to do some damage.

It was good to see the return of some players who had been missing from the previous campaign, most notably Randall and Lloyd and the introduction of two new players in Smith (hooker) and Dolphin (flanker).

The game started at a frantic pace and, against the odds, Pershore were leading at half time with tries from Alex Jammal (2), Leon Jammal (2) and Lee Norster.

Kicking into an awkward wind Sanders managed three conversions to send the home team in at half time with a comfortable 31-3 lead.

In the second half Ledbury made something of a fightback with three opportunist tries but Pershore responded with three scores of their own from Sanders, new captain Heydon and Norster.

The departure of Sanders ten minutes into the second half saw the arrival of debutant Dolphin who made a valuable contribution.

Late on in the game he was rewarded for his support play when he received a pass from Alex Jammal and went over for his first try for the club.

Second half conversions were poor with only Leon Jammal enjoying any success.

Pershore did not want the game to end but were pleased to enjoy such an emphatic win.

Credit must be given to the referee who applied the new laws with good effect and allowed for an open free running game.

Ledbury III 26 pts, Pershore III 12

FINE weather blessed the opening game of the season, and made for a thoroughly enjoyable local fixture at Ledbury.

Stout defence on both sides kept the game tight until well into the second quarter, when Ledbury used an overlap to score on the left wing.

Despite some incisive upfield breaks from Alan Jenkinson and Ben Humphries among others, Pershore were kept out by keen tackling and turned round 12-0 adrift.

The visitors found renewed vigour in the second half, epitomised by a fine solo try from Humphries who, having caught a through kick, chipped over the defence and regathered to score his first try for the club.

Steady progress by the pack and quick handling through the backs released Craig Wylesmith who crossed the line to claw back to a 17-12 scoreline.

Pershore suffered further injuries and, having been reduced to 12 men towards the end of the game, could do nothing to prevent a further Ledbury score which secured the game.

Pershore travel to Upton for another attractive local derby on Saturday.

Pershore IV 29 pts, Dudley V 5

PERSHORE opened up the season with a dynamic display of controlled rugby that made a very capable Dudley side look second best for most of the game.

The home side were able to dominate large sections of the game due to the control the forwards executed in the scrummage and line-out.

Geoff Bucknall, John Matthews, Bob Randall and Ian Ansell were at the the core of the forward effort while the tireless efforts of Carl Wilkins in the back row never let the visitors rest.

Rarely did Dudley get a chance to influence the final result and it was only on the one occasion they had a short period of possession that they were able to show their real class when they were able to release a very sharp back division.

This score only served to inspire the home sides defence to close the game up.

Scorers for Pershore were Randall, Antony Perks, Damien Hanson, Matthews with Perks converting three tries and a penalty.