Second half Woodrush display sees off Ledbury (From Redditch Advertiser)

Second half Woodrush display sees off Ledbury

1:20pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Local Sport

Woodrush 30, Ledbury 10

This scoreline sounds like an easy victory for Woodrush but at half-time this close Midlands Division Three West (South) game could have gone either way.

With injuries to Lock Luke Russell, winger Ed Lerna and centre Andy McGrann, Woodrush were forced to shuffle the pack and then scrum half Toby Smith was forced to withdraw just before kick-off and the signs were ominous.

But the hosts built up a 10-0 lead through Steve Smart who scored a penalty, then broke free 10 metres out to score under the posts, before adding the conversion.

But Ledbury clawed their way back into the match with a penalty themselves and a try on the stroke of half-time following a line-out then a rolling maul which they converted.

By then, Woodrush had lost the influencial Smart with bruised ribs and were forced to make more changes.

Ledbury were now in command and appeared to have the advantage.

But Woodrush somehow found an inner strength in the second half that had been lacking in the first and they completely dominated this period.

First centre James Evans scored but stand-in kicker Josh Tomlinson missed the conversion.

Then elusive winger Lucas Hooper was released and he broke through several tackle attempts to score under the posts.

Tomlinson landed the conversion and a further penalty.

On the stroke of full-time, Hooper again broke free on the wing and rounded his man to score in the corner which earnt the home side the vital bonus to give an impressive scoreline, which at half-time had seemed a remote possibility.

The win puts Woodrush up to third place in the league.

They will be aiming to keep up the momentum at Pershore in the league on Saturday (3pm ko).