Greyhound 38 pts Stoke Old Boys 29.

GREYHOUND moved to the top of Midlands Five West (South) in a clash of two previously-unbeaten sides.

A long-range penalty from Dave Bromage gave Greyhound an early lead and then, after 12 minutes, Elliot Phillips put centre Rob Chance over in the corner to put Greyhound 8-0 ahead.

Old Boys replied with an unconverted try and a penalty to level the scores but Greyhound hit back and Tom Spellane intercepted a pass on half-way to storm over under the posts. Bromage converted.

The visitors replied with a converted try a few minutes later to keep the sides level at half-time.

Stoke quickly added seven points at the start of the second period but Bromage replied with a successful penalty to keep the home side within range.

Then captain Jamie Gibbons scored after a break through the visitors’ defence before the Old Boys replied with a converted try.

A tactical substitution saw Darren Braithwaite’s fresh legs put second row Oli Paton over. Bromage converted and, as full-time approached, Phillips slipped a pass to Chance to put the home side six points ahead.

Bromage sealed the win with a successful penalty on the stroke of full-time.

Ashley Down Old Boys 16 pts Ross 7.

ROSS battled hard to try to overcome the absence of six first-team forwards but ultimately found the Gloucester Two promotion-chasers too strong.

Ashley Down opened the scoring with a try and a penalty but Ross hit back with a well-worked Craig Smith try, converted by Craig Powell, to remain within a single point of their hosts at the turnaround. In the second period, the home side made good use of the slope to keep Ross pinned back and extended their lead with a penalty and a try.

l Chris Gage kicked two penalties and a conversion to add to Pete Jarvis’ try but Ashley Down won the battle of the clubs’ second-teams 31-13.

In Midlands Three West (South), Ledbury suffered a setback after two straight victories when they were beaten at home by Pershore 32-22.

But Bromyard have slipped to second-from bottom in Midlands Four West (North) when their game at Harborne was called off.