Pershore take win after tight encounter (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Pershore take win after tight encounter

8:00am Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport

PERSHORE kept their Midlands Three West (South) promotion hopes alive when a depleted squad came back to edge a 24-23 win at basement boys Redditch.

A fine individual try by flyhalf Adrian Hanson opened the scoring and Lewis Dolphin converted but that was as good as it got in the firsthalf for Pershore.

The Redditch pack starved them of possession and the hosts scored two tries and a penalty to lead 15-7.

Pershore number eight Martin Hope was sin-binned for a late challenge. The visitors were more aggressive in the second-half but Redditch added a penalty and try.

However, an Ash White score on the wing, after exchanging passes with Matt Cyphus, and a try on the opposite flank from Andy Jenkinson closed the gap.

In the final 10 minutes, Pershore showed the intensity required and another big carry from Hope was supported by centre Richard Baker who created a gap for Stefan Ellis to score.

Dolphin converted to give third-placed Pershore a onepoint lead but, in a nail-biting finish, Redditch missed a kickable penalty and then booted another to the corner for a drive from the line-out.

Dolphin was penalised for pulling it down, resulting in a penalty and a yellow card.

With time now dead, Redditch opted for the scrum but their number eight fumbled the ball over the try-line.