AFTER several late changes due to drop-outs higher up, Ledbury took the field with a re-shuffled side and an inexperienced pack.

LEDBURY III 21pts, WESTBURY II 36pts

Ledbury started the game a player down, but within minutes, secured good possession, and quick hands across the backs opened up the opportunity for pacy winger James Pugh to run in a try from well within his own half. The try was converted by Tim Reilly.

However, it wasn't long before Westbury came back. With their vastly more experienced pack, they exerted pressure up front and soon provided the opportunity for a try-scoring break from a maul. This raised their moral, and they were soon pushing the home pack all over the park, creating a further try-scoring opportunity for their forwards, which was also converted.

Ledbury were not disheartened, and were soon back in it. After good ball was secured from scrum half Charles Snell, from a retreating scrum, led to quick hands from Reilly, and a great break from debutant Chris Stokes, whose angles of running committed the last lines of defence, before setting up Stuart Philp to finish a brilliant try. Reilly again converted.

Spirits were also shortly further boosted by the arrival of late stand-in prop Kim Parsons, to bring the teams up to level numbers. This was, however short lived as Westbury rallied again, notching up another try, before narrowly missing the conversion off the bar.

Ledbury turned around at half-time, after an inspired team-talk from skipper Humphrey, and chased the game again. Westbury, however, started to play more of the game through their now dominant forwards, and driving the scrum and using rolling mauls to good effect, they soon scored again, and converted to take a 24-14 lead.

Ledbury were not beaten, and soon came back with the try of the game as Stokes made a break from just inside his own half to score. Tim Reilly converted again.

Ledbury were back in contention, but only briefly, as a misjudged kick, behind his own line, from Lee Fisher, presented the visitors with an easy try, also converted.

This was followed by a significant period of time camped on their own line as the visitors exerted further forward pressure, eventually getting their rewards, to set up an unassailable lead of 36-21.

Ledbury fought to the end, and had the best of the play in the last 10 minutes, spending a lot of time in the opponents 22, but it was too little too late, and the score remained 36-21.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Ledbury Thirds travel to Tewkesbury Seconds.