PERSHORE visited Ross Road to take on Ledbury and the match ended in a gripping 33-33 draw.

The two Midlands Four West (South) teams could not have differed more with the flare of the Ledbury back line contrasting with the attrition of the Pershore forwards.

Using the slope to their advantage, Ledbury took the lead after five minutes when a missed tackle in the centre gave an easy score under the posts, which was duly converted. The lead was extended a few minutes later with a converted try from out wide.

The home side added a penalty and Pershore found themselves 17-0 down with less than 20 minutes played.

However, the visitors soon opened their account. A dropped ball in midfield was kicked ahead by Matt Cyphus, who eventually won the foot race up the hill to score under the posts. Fly-half Will Woodhouse added the conversion.

The try kick-started the Pershore forwards, who began to exert some real dominance on the opposing pack, pushing them back in every scrum and competing well in the line-out.

After some sustained pressure from the visitors, a penalty was awarded.

Captain Toby Grace made the brave decision to kick to the corner instead of taking an easy three points and his courage was rewarded.

A catch-and-drive line-out ended with winger Marcus Whyte being piled over the line. Woodhouse was again successful with the conversion attempt.

The half ended badly for Pershore, though, with another Ledbury score meaning the visitors had a 10-point deficit going into the second period.

The initial exchanges of the second-half were played in the middle of the park, but a clever kick from Woodhouse ended with Ledbury being forced to carry the ball over their own line. From the five-metre scrum, the Pershore front row marched their pack over the line for number eight Martin Hope to score. Woodhouse again added the conversion.

Soon after, Pershore took the lead for the first time.

Another catch-and-drive from a line-out was cleverly pulled down by the home defence, but Ledbury struggled to defend the fringes. The Pershore forwards probed frailties around the edge of the ruck and prop Karl Evans claimed the score, touching down from no more than a metre out.

It was at this point that things started to go badly for Pershore. Firstly, they lost flanker Chris Copson to injury and then fellow back-rower Steve Holmes was sent off for allegedly throwing a punch.

Down to 14 men, Pershore’s defence obviously became stretched and they started to give away penalties in dangerous areas of the pitch.

The Ledbury kicker slotted three penalties without reply to give his side a seven-point lead going into the final few minutes of the game.

With the game slipping further from Pershore’s reach, Woodhouse made a break down the left flank, chipping ahead for winger Stefan Ellis to chase.

The pressure from Ellis forced Ledbury to carry the ball over the line again. From the scrum, which was to be the final play of the game, Pershore’s seven-man pack drove back the eight Ledbury forwards with ease.

As Hope was about to score, the Ledbury flanker broke from the scrum and dived on the ball. With a try certain if the infringement was not committed, the referee had no option but to award a penalty try. Woodhouse added the conversion to salvage a dramatic draw for the visitors.