Aston OEs 24pts, Pershore 12

A COUPLE of fine tries from Andy Jefferson brought plucky Pershore back into Saturday's Powergen Intermediate Cup tie but the home side responded with a converted try and penalty in the final ten minutes to seal a hard-fought victory.

The visitors chose to rest some players while also switching a few into different positions but they still managed to produce as marvellous display and for most of the game they were the better side.

Pershore outplayed their hosts for the opening 20 minutes when only a poor final pass or wrong decision prevented them taking the lead.

As so often happens, OEs soaked up the pressure and then scored the first try when a speculative kick downfield by the full back saw the ball fortuitously bounce straight into his arms as he followed up and he touched down.

The conversion left the hosts seven points to the good and that lead was doubled after a series of five-metre scrums saw the Piddle Park rearguard eventually breached leaving Pers-hore with a second half moun- tain to climb.

However, line-out play of the highest order gave the visitors a platform to get back into the match with Alex Peel, Lewis Dolphin and Chris Bassett dominant in the loose and Toby Gavin and Luke Eversham adding grit and aggression to the forward play and their efforts were rewarded when Jefferson twice touched down after fine work from Steve Holmes.

James Martin landed both conversions to level matters but a delicate chip ten minutes from time again fell kindly for an Aston attacker who outsprinted the cover into the corner.

The conversion was followed by a penalty to leave Pershore's hopes of progress in tatters and to concentrate their minds on league success starting with a home game on Saturday.

The third team easily overcame Upton's second string thanks to a fantastic front five show and solid all-round defence in which man of the match Bob Randall shone brightest.

The hosts were quickly into their stride and young centre Dan Maund was denied a try on his debut before the evergreen Wayne Stammers crossed for the opening try.

Fly-half Dave Snell added the extra points from the touchline and a penalty extended Pershore's lead to ten points.

Solid defence kept out Upton and the home side started the second half in similarly good form with the pack dominant in the scrums.

Stammers double this and his side's try count before good chasing from inspirational skipper Iain Cother set Snell loose the afternoon's third try that the scorer converted.