Worcestershire Sport

Woodrush power to derby victory

Kings Norton 3 Woodrush 65
A WOODRUSH victory in Saturday's Midlands Three West (South) local derby was perhaps the expected outcome but the margin of their triumph was definitely a surprise given the recent improvement shown by Kings, despite a still considerable injury list.
The visitors ran riot as they scored ten tries with no such response from the hosts, although they were made to wait until the final quarter for the floodgates to open.
A lightweight Kings Norton side had little to offer in defence as they were well defeated, not helped by being forced into making eight changes to the side which had won away to Harbury.
Squaddies Chris Carlin and John Swanson - the latter posted to Afghanistan this week for his first tour - were both home on leave for the weekend and had joined the ranks, but it was soon clear that lack of practice and playing together would take its toll on the final result.
Playing against a strong wind in the first half, Woodrush laboured to a 15-3 half time lead thanks to tries from winger Jacko Maddocks and two from centre Paul Witham, who was man of the match, with Kings' only score coming from a Ken Whitehouse penalty.
In the second half Woodrush used the down wind to great territorial advantage with some superb kicking from fly half Steve Smart who scored an early drop goal, but it was scrum half Titch Thomas' try with 20 minutes left that left the Kings Norton defence deflated.
Woodrush now had the breathing space to put some training ground moves into operation and further tries followed from Maddocks (2), Andrew Poole, Thomas, John Board and Lee Wainwright, with Smart managing to convert six of them without actually going over himself for a change, as Kings used all three substitutes in the second period and ended the game with just 14 men.
A large crowd of visiting supporters were entertained to a dazzling display of running rugby from the Woodrush backs whilst the forwards were unusually a good match for their Kings Norton counterparts, providing good ball from the set pieces for the backs to do their stuff.
Paul Moppett deserves particular praise, helping out by playing at prop for the first time.
The victory took Woodrush up to fourth place in the league with eight points ahead of tomorrow's visit of Southam, while tenth placed Kings will bid to rally themselves for their vitally important home match against bottom side Ledbury, who are just two points behind the Ash Lane outfit.
Kings are set to welcome back a number of first teamers which should boost their chances of a much-needed victory to keep them clear of the basement positions.

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