WORCESTER Wanderers began their quest for promotion with a convincing 22-7 win against Coventry Marconi.

They forged ahead with two tries and two penalties in the first half but only managed a single penalty in the second.

In the first 15 minutes of the game the Wanderers were pressing the Marconi 22 and were eventually awarded a penalty for offside. Fly Half Geraint Perkins slotted the kick from 35 metres wide on the right.

The Worcester players sprung into action and centre Ryan Henshaw nearly scored a spectacular try only to be thwarted a metre from the line.

He had gathered up a loose Marconi kick inside the Wanderers 22 and ran onto his own kick before a dramatic tackle stopped the score.

Despite constant pressure, Marconi resisted the Wanderers attacks until the referee awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck. Perkins converted the kick to take the lead to 6-0.

Eventually the backs clicked and from a scrum in the Wanderers 22, number eight Will Orgee picked up and passed to scrum-half Tim Fincher.

His weighted pass to Perkins was flicked on to Henshaw, whose strength enabled him to provide the perfect pass to full-back Chris Jenkinson, who slipped the final tackle to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

The score spurred on the Wanderers to another quality try with back row forwards and backs linking well. Following a penalty, Fincher tapped and passed to Perkins who gave the ball to Henshaw.

His sweet pass to openside Sam Orgee allowed him to power through a two-man tackle to score in the corner. Perkins' kick scraped the posts to make the score at half-time 16-0.

Within two minutes of the restart, the Wanderers were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck by Marconi, which Perkins kicked with ease, stretching the score to 19-0.

Although Wanderers had most of the possession and territory, handling errors denied them further scores and, against the run of play, Marconi ran then kicked the ball out of their half.

A combination of greasy ball and bounce thwarted the defender and Tom Short gratefully leapt on the ball over the line to score under the posts.

Mal Boyd converted for Marconi and the score was narrowed to 19-7 in Worcester's favour.

Wanderers renewed their attacks and, a few minutes from the end of the match, Perkins kicked a tricky penalty to ensure that Wanderers won their first game 22-7.

The win places Wanderers in third place behind Droitwich and Edwardians on points scored difference in Midlands Four West (South).

The Wanderers second team lost their second merit team game against a strengthened Bromsgrove III by 43-7.

Bromsgrove had much of the ball but a depleted Wanderers team played to the very end and made some good runs into the opposition half.

The Wanderers also put out a veterans team at Bromsgrove, losing their inaugural game but they were buoyed up by the game and confident of victories in future fixtures.

The third XV are yet to begin their campaign and both the vets and thirds are welcoming players new and old. They are invited to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sixways.

On Saturday, Wanderers are in action again. They travel to Sheffield to play Dronfield in the Powergen Junior Vase.