PERSHORE progressed in the Midlands Senior Vase with a 14-9 victory over Bloxwich in a bad-tempered encounter.

As with previous weeks, Pershore’s set-piece was dominant, which allowed their back row a free rein to spoil all afternoon.

Both halves were influenced by a strong wind straight down the length of the pitch.

Pershore played into the wind and soon forced Bloxwich into conceding two penalties, which Lewis Dolphin had little difficulty converting into points.

The game soon became a war of attrition with the forwards slugging it out.

Bloxwich ventured into Pershore’s 22 twice and on both occasions were rewarded with penalty successes.

Hands in the ruck from Bloxwich gave Dolphin another penalty attempt to stretch their lead.

With 10 minutes to go, a turnover scrum on halfway enabled Martin Hope to pick up, gallop down the blind side and give a scoring pass to Chris Copson.

On the full-time whistle, Bloxwich converted a penalty to reduce the scoreline.

Pershore have only lost one game this season and, considering this was a below-par performance against intimidating opposition and with a long list of injured players, it was a good win. Greg Shaw was the man-of-the- match.