


SEP
This was a tough, forward orientated match. It was ultimatly decided by
Pershores dominance in the set piece. The lineout, was efficient, and
varied, but it was at the scrum that Pershore overwhelmed Cheltenham.
The front row of Alex Peel, Ben Humphries, and skipper Karl Evans, gave
their opposite numbers a torrid afternoon. With this ascendency in the
scrum, even on their own ball, Cheltenham had little quality ball to
work with. Pershore got off to a good start, forcing Cheltenham onto the
back foot, with their big ball carriers running straight and hard.
Eventually after the ball was recycled through several phases, Martin
Hope burst down the wing, his grubber kick was gathered by Andy
Jenkinson who crashed over. The difficult conversion was missed. A
purple patch followed with Pershore camped in Norths 22 for twenty
minutes, however a combination of the wrong decisions being made,
handling errors, and a resolute Cheltenham defence, meant that the
scoreboard was not effected. With the half time approaching, and totally
against the run of play, Cheltenhams first visit to the Pershore 22 was
rewarded when fast hands down the blindside of a ruck, saw their winger
Timms touch down. The diddicult conversion fron wide out, was converted
by Jones. The second half mirrored the first, Pershore dominating the
quality possession, but guilty of running back into their big forwards,
or trying to run through their aggressive midfield. With hindsight, if
Pershore had played with more width, they could have scored more points.
With the scrum forcing Cheltenham to concede penalties, eventually
Pershore converted one through Woodhouse, to take a narrow lead. The
final ten minutes saw Cheltenham attack Pershore from all parts of the
pitch, but Pershore defended very well, and held out for a deserved win.

