Pershore 16 - Woodrush 13
Jan
Allthough the scoreline sugggests otherwise, this was a convincing ,
dominant, performance from Pershore. Statistically, Pershore probably
had 70 % of the possession, and spent at least 75% of the game in the
Wooodrush half. But it shows that even with a glut of possession, if you
do not convert chances, the opposition will always keep in touch.
Pershores forwards, were in their usual commanding form, with the back
row of Hope , Copson , and Owen , winning the open play battle, and as
the game progressed, the tight five dominated the set piece. Pershore
camped themselves in the Wooodrush half from the off, and only last
ditch tackling, and basic handling errors , let Wooodrush off the hook.
It appeared that it was only a matter of time before Pershore scored,
but suddenly, totally against the run of play, the Woodrush scrum half
made a blind side break, fly half Smart was in support, and his pace saw
him sprint down the touchline to score in the corner, his touchline
conversion was good. From the kick off, Pershore again won plenty of
good ball, but lacked a killer edge, or an incisive break to convert
pressure into points, but the constant pressure had to tell, surely. As
Pershore mounted another attack, a dropped pass in midfield was hacked
on by Woodrush, Pershores covering winger gathered and secured the ball,
but was penalised for holding on. Smart converted to make it 10 -0 to
Wooodrush at half time. With all that possession, and to be down at half
time, could have seen Pershores heads drop, but they galvanised
themselves in the second half, and totally controlled proceedings. They
started to play to theitr strengths, with the forwards putting together
several phases of powerful forward drives, but this time inspirational
prop Alex Peel crashed over, Dolphin converting. Pershore again settled
things down and patiently put themselves in attacking positions again,
forcing Wooodrush into conceding penalties. Dolphin converting one of
them to draw level. With fifteen to go another Woodrush infringement
allowed Dolphin to take Pershore into the lead for the first time.
Woodrush restarted the match and immediately had the chance to draw
level when Pershore infringed at the kick off. Smart duly converted the
kick. With the clock running down Pershore again looked to their
forwards to put the pressure back on Woodrush, and they duly delivered.
From a line out, beautifully taken by Grace, the forwards drove towards
the Woodrush line. With the whitewash beckoning Woodrush draggged it
down and conceded the penalty. Lewis Dolphin, who had not had the best
of kicking days, stepped up and stroked the ball between the posts, and
sealed a hard fought victory. Pershore are away at local rivals Redditch
on Saturday 9 January.
