Evesham 10 pts Ledbury 23

LEDBURY saw off basement club Evesham to move back up to third place in the Midlands Three West (South) table.

But the Ross Road side did not have things all their own way in increasingly difficult conditions with the saturated ground, strong wind and heavy rain making expansive rugby impossible.

Ledbury had to defend well as they faced the wind in the first half, with Evesham kicking for position to force the visitors back into their own 22.

It was Ledbury, however, who opened the scoring on 25 minutes when centre George Bennion was successful with a penalty kick.

Evesham responded five minutes later with a converted try and, although Jock Welch finished off a line-out drive, it was the home side who led at the turnaround after converting a penalty.

Conditions deteriorated still further as the second half got underway and negated the advantage Ledbury had from playing with the wind.

But the Herefordshire side's dominance grew and they took the lead on 55 minutes when scrum-half and head coach Paul Rudland dived over.

Bennion's second penalty of the afternoon extended the advantage and Gary Nicholson, who had an outstanding game in attack and defence, crashed over for a third try.

Bennion added the conversion from the touch-line to round off the scoring.