LEDBURY RFC captain Rob Anscomb knows his “small” team face a big battle against top-of-the-table Woodrush this weekend but will go there with no fear.

The Ross Road side may not have have the biggest of players amongst their ranks, but Anscomb says they can use that to their advantage.

“We are a small side but we work really hard,” said Anscomb.

“We know we are small, but we do a lot of contact in training and we are all technically good.

“In the areas where may be the stronger, bigger people would benefit, our technique gets us through that.

“We have got Woodrush away next and they are top of the table, so it will be a real big battle there.

“We will look to get something out of that, but it will be very hard.”

Ledbury have made a slow start to their Midlands Three West (South) campaign and currently lie eighth in the table having finished fourth last season.

But they go into this Saturday’s game on the back of a resounding 48-22 win against bottom-of-the-table Harbury. And, in their last away fixture, Ledbury only narrowly lost 33-30 to second place Dunlop.

Eight tries were scored against Harbury, with Lewis Williams and Gary Nicholson grabbing two each.

“Everyone was looking to get on the scoresheet,” said Anscomb.

“In the league, no game is going to be an easy one and we knew they weren’t just going to come up here and give us the win, so we are delighted that we did.

“We want to end up in the top half of the table and we have had a bit of a slow start. I don’t think we are going to get promoted this year, but top half definitely.”

Ledbury struggled during the opening 20 minutes and the game became scrappy.

Harbury opened the scoring via a penalty from Richard Mazurek before Dave Bromage went over the line for Ledbury, with George Bennion converting. But a mistake by Ledbury led to Steven Alford intercepting a kick to score Harbury’s first try and regain the lead.

Within minutes, Ledbury were back in front when Harry Bee burst through to grab a try and Gary Nicholson added another one to take the home side into the half-time break 17-8 ahead. If Ledbury made a slow start during the first 20 minutes of the first half, they most certainly did not in the second 40 minutes. Anscomb grabbed his own try, converted by Bennion, before Chris Stokes stormed through for try number five.

“I think Chris Stokes’ try was very good, it was a nice rampaging run for him,” said senior head coach Ben Smith.

“I know he has been struggling lately with a hamstring injury, but it was nice to get him back on the pitch.”

Lewis Williams then grabbed two tries, with himself converting the second one, before Harbury scored two tries of their own through John Wheelhouse and Mazurek.

But Ledbury had the last word when Nicholson went over the line shortly before the referee blew for full-time.

“Gary has been great all season,” said Anscomb.

“I think he has scored about 20 tries so far and is really holding us together.”

Smith added that, in order to progress up the league table, the team needs to focus for the full 80 minutes and cut out mistakes.

“We tend to concentrate for 10 to 15 minutes, then kind of switch off, so that is something we are always trying to build on," said Smith.