Aldridge 3 Droitwich 56

North Midland Shield

DROITWICH maintained their blistering form by dishing out a heavy defeat to Aldridge to ensure the team's progression in the North Midlands Shield on Saturday.

Leon Hopkins and Chris Hooper were Droitwich's biggest dangermen, as the duo bagged late tries to seal an emphatic win.

James Davies was named man of the match after an effervescent display in the back row.

Spa now test their mettle in the first round against either Dixonians or Worcester Warriors on either February 25 or 26.

Droitwich had to start the match without Ben Thomas and Phil Horton, after the duo got lost on the way to Aldridge. This meant captain Nick Godfrey moved to number eight and a half fit Dean Goddard was drafted in.

To make matters worse the home side started strongly and scored under the posts to go 7-0 up.

Spa's superior fitness and organisation began to change the match and Simon Pearce dived over for a try.

James Shewell touched down after some incisive play by Blackmore, who also scored a penalty to make it 13-7 by half time.

Horton replaced Goddard at the break and Droitwich increased the pressure. Ian Craig won a lineout and drove over the line.

Spa's opponents lost a key player when their captain had to come off with injury. Substitute Hooper scored with his first touch and Blackmore converted. Hooper completed a flowing move to grab his second, before Hopkins added another. Ben Cottrell and Pete Murphy completed the rout with late tries.

Victory means that Spa have enjoyed the best possible start to 2006 and the second half of the season.

A win over Berkswell and Balsall the week before also put Droitwich in a strong position in the Midlands Division Four West (South).

Spa is currently third in the table, with a game in hand on the leaders Stourbridge Lions and trailing by just four points.

The first team is enjoying its finest run of results since relegation last season and has also been buoyed by last week's news that the club has signed a £100,000 five-year sponsorship deal with Persimmon Homes.

Spa can go into second place on Saturday, if they can defeat their main rivals for promotion Edwardians away from home. Victory would see Spa leap above Edwardains because of a superior number of points accumulated in matches.