Pershore 22pts, Birmingham Exiles 0

SATURDAY'S match highlighted Pershore's strength of character with over half the regular first team either injured or not available.

The home team was made up of players playing out of position and unfamiliar to patterns of play. But, apart from a brief ten-minute spell, the hosts controlled the game.

The back row triumverate of Andy Watson, Ben Pullin and Chris Bassett were superb and the Exiles' dangerous midfield were snuffed out at every opportunity by a hard-tackling midfield and they never looked like scoring.

Pershore were 8-0 up at half-time through a penalty kicked by Phil Green and a well-taken try by winger Lee Norster. Phil Green narrowly missed three penalty attempts at goal which would have seen Pershore out of sight.

The second half saw Pershore turn the screw winning good first phase ball and driving upfield via the forwards. From a line-out catch and drive, Sid Hirons angled his run to the corner and hit winger Steve Holmes at pace who scored.

Pershore continued to force the pace and relentlessly pounded the visitors' line, whereupon their only answer was to continually infringe, kill the ball or come offside.

A yellow card or a penalty try would have been justice but the referee was apparently reluctant to make such a decision.

For all Pershore's attempts to play running rugby, they were only rewarded with three more Green penalties when a margin of another 15 points would have been more fitting on an afternoon of more strife for the losers.