WORCESTER Wanderers’ season got under way with a 47-0 EDF Senior Vase Cup victory over newly-promoted Cleobury Mortimer in wet and windy weather.

James Price, making his Wanderers debut after two seasons out of the game due to a bad injury, was influential throughout.

Wanderers, playing with a slight wind advantage, took the game to Cleobury from the kick-off.

Despite the conditions, Wanderers’ ball retention and passing was of high quality and the crowd enjoyed an open game to which both sides contributed. Wanderers off-loaded well and invariably the support players were in attendance.

Cleobury tackled bravely but the hosts continued to press forward and scored five unconverted tries in the opening 30 minutes.

Chris Jenkinson (2), Luke Denton, Ali McLaughlin and Mike James effectively took the game out of Cleobury’s reach.

The second-half began with Wanderers excercising greater control of the ball. John Hines, Tim Moore and Adi Barber entered the game for the Wanderers.

It was Cleobury’s turn to attack and, despite being down to 13 men at one stage with Dan Sparrey sin-binned and McLaughlin receiving treatment off the field, Wanderers’ defence held firm.

Further tries from Moore (2), Jake Saddington and Hines, with Sparrey adding a conversion, completed the scoring.