Worcestershire Sport

Pershore in Senior Vase exit

Burntwood 19 Pershore 10
PERSHORE are free to concentrate on trying to clinch promotion from Midlands Three West (South) after exiting the National Senior Vase at the Midlands quarter-final stage on Saturday.
Whilst league promotion was always Pershore's priority this season, there was still a large degree of disappointment at the manner of Saturday's Vase exit in Staffordshire as the visitors produced a below-par display against their Midlands Three West (North) counterparts.
Pershore's scrummage was under pressure throughout the match and, with first phase possession not guaranteed, Pershore's big ball carriers, in particular Martin Hope at 8, did not have any decent ball to attack from the base of the scrum.
Pershore's cause was not helped when influential prop Alex Peel left the field injured after 15 minutes. However, Burntwood were a far more committed and determined outfit on the day and deserved their win.
The first quarter of the game was all Burntwood, as they mounted a series of attacks on the Pershore line, but for all their efforts they only kicked one penalty.
The rest of the first half was a battle for forward supremacy, with flowing rugby scarce, from both sides.
After the break, Pershore came back into the game and started winning some ball, in particular from the reliable Toby Grace in the lineout.
But, as is so common of late, a lot of this hard won possession was kicked away. In fact, a turning point in the game could have happened when Pershore had a four-man overlap and straight running and simple passing would have resulted in a try, however the inside centre chose to kick the ball away and the opportunity was gone.
This was Pershore's last real chance of turning the game around and Burntwood seized the initiative. Three further penalties were kicked from their reliable goal kicker and then, from a loose lineout ball on Pershore's try line, the Burntwood openside swooped on the ball, gathered and crashed over and the conversion was good.
With the clock running down, for once Pershore managed to transfer the ball along the backs and, with a bit of space, Matt Harwood touched down and Lewis Dolphin - who also scored a penalty - converted.
Second placed Pershore face another tough challenge on Saturday when they return to league duty with a visit to Coventry and bid to become the first side this season to take points off leaders Dunlop.
Pershore will hope their forwards can continue their fine efforts of this season so far, but know the key will be bidding to stop Dunlop's tremendous backs from firing on all cylinders.

• | More
• «Back
• «Home
• Contact the Sports Desk about this story