Pershore RFC 33-24 Redditch Rugby Club

REDDITCH Rugby Club find themselves rooted to the bottom of Midland Division 4 West South following a slender reverse at next to bottom Pershore.

It was a marked improvement on previous performances but Redditch still find themselves looking for their first win after five league games.

Redditch took the lead when Sam Gladwin produced a smart off-load for the backing up Matt Allen, who in turn made ground before spreading the ball wide for Josh Kearny to score, with Gladwin converting.

Pershore soon levelled the scores when their rangy No.8 picked up from the back of a scrum to race through several tackles to score a converted try.

An interception and 80 metre run saw Pershore double their lead before Redditch levelled again when Lewis Saddington make the initial break which resulted with Barrie Forrester-Smith strolling over to score while Gladwin added the extras.

Pershore made the most of some clumsy Redditch handling to snatch a third try on the stroke of half time to lead 19-14.

Gladwin then cut the deficit with a penalty before Redditch regained the lead, Forrester -Smith and Kearny combining to send Gladwin over for a try which he converted himself.

In the final 15 minutes, Redditch looked set to score a fourth try when Stuart George was taken out when he looked to have kicked through to put himself into a try-scoring position.

Redditch hoped for a penalty try but the referee ignored the offence and Pershore positively grew in confidence from this let off to regain the lead at 26-24 with another converted try.

The outcome was eventually decided on another interception as Pershore plucked a speculative pass out of the air to score.

Redditch were guilty of conceding too many penalties and too many turnovers, the lost possession conspiring to leave them with nothing to show for their efforts.

Redditch have no fixture this Saturday owing to a designated National Cup weekend.