Ledbury RFC, with their batteries charged following a two-week break consisting of a healthy diet of turkey and potatoes, hit the ground running in their first game of 2003.

LEDBURY RFC 33pts, SOUTHAM 11pts

It only took three minutes for winger Ollie Kaye to score in the corner following good hands from the back of a scrum using one of Ledbury's favoured set pieces. The try went unconverted due to the heavy pitch conditions.

Barrett Price made amends within five minutes by slotting a penalty from under the posts and a further just six minutes later. At this stage, Ledbury were in complete control of the game - the tight five were securing excellent line-out ball, the back row bursting tackles and the backs utilising the clean ball to full effect.

Dave Pickering was back to his usual devastating form, securing man of the match with big tackles and creating overlaps for the rest of the backs by sucking in the Southam defence.

Ledbury's next score can be claimed by all eight forwards although the points will be awarded to blind side flanker, Chris Lewins. Hooker Simon Wragg spotted Mick Christopherson in the line-out who was ably assisted by Cameron Doig and Lewins. The resulting rolling maul saw the forwards effectively manoeuvre the ball down the blind side and then to the open side, allowing Lewins to touch down for an unconverted try.

Southam's only answer in the first half was to slot a penalty to make the half time score 16-3.

In the second half, Ledbury seemed to go off the boil and let Southam back into the game. Ledbury's fitness was questionable at times but it was the home side who scored first through second row Matt Williams.

Deep in Southam's territory, Wragg athletically charged down a clearance kick for Williams to secure the ball and score his first try in Ledbury colours. The try went unconverted.

Southam, still in the game and enjoying some territory, managed to score a well worked try albeit Ledbury had missed numerous tackles. The try went unconverted but a later penalty for Southam drew the scores closer to 21-11.

Ledbury's best score of the game followed. Isiah Young picked the ball up just outside his own 22 and burst through two tackles. The pitch was left wide open, save for 70 yards and three defenders. Excellent support play from Lewins saw him receive the pass from Young with 20 yards to go to touch down. This time, Price managed to slot the conversion.

The final score came deep into injury time from substitute Greg Powell. A penalty saw in-form Rob Collins feed Powell to allow him to take three defenders with him over the line. The try was unconverted.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Ledbury travel to league leaders Nuneaton Old Edwardians looking for revenge from being knocked out of the cup. Ledbury have the ability to turn their unbeaten hosts over but must be on form for all 80 minutes of the match to do so.