PERSHORE put in a much improved Western Counties North performance, but still lost 41-20 at home to Avonmouth Old Boys.

The game was closer than the scoreline suggests, but a mixture of individual errors and bad luck cost the hosts victory.

Avonmouth took the lead early in the match with a penalty. The visitors then extended their lead with a try from a quick penalty after Pershore had been guilty of entering a ruck from the side.

Pershore hit back with a well-worked try from a line-out which was scored by wing Andy Jenkinson.

A late tackle saw Avonmouth reduced to 14 men for the remainder of the first-half and Riley slotted the resulting penalty.

Having won a penalty 10 metres from the line, Pershore opted for the scum rather than the easy points. The brave decision paid dividends as lock Marcus Whyte scored a well-deserved try to give the hosts a 13-8 half-time lead.

In the second-half, Avonmouth soon took the lead with a series of penalties and a try from an up-and-under which Pershore failed to clear.

The visitors then stretched their lead to 29-13 with another penalty and a try.

Martin Hope managed to score under the posts and Adrian Hanson added the conversion to bring the score back to 29-20.

However, the rest of the game belonged to the visitors who were able to capitalise on Pershore mistakes to add to further tries.