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Match reportEVESHAM 1ST XV 12 LEDBURY 1ST XV 20 Ledbury 1st XV overcame atrocious weather conditions and a committed performance from the home team to defeat Evesham by three tries to two on Saturday to maintain their second place in Midlands 4 West (South). Victory in their final two league games will secure promotion for the Ross Road side but these fixtures will prove a real test of their credentials. On Saturday 12 April they face newly crowned champions Spartans at home then a week later travel to Coventry for the crunch match against third placed Old Coventrians. Ledbury have been the form team in the division over recent months, their victory at Evesham being the seventh in a row. The overhead and ground conditions of previous weeks have suited the expansive, running and passing game which has become their trademark whereas Saturday’s were difficult in the extreme, the game being won as much by determination and organisation as by skill. A combination of a delayed kick off, inadequate changing facilities and eccentric refereeing, together with the cold, wet and windy conditions could have resulted in an upset, especially as Evesham scored a try in the first few minutes. However, Ledbury’s forwards exerted a degree of control on the opposition pack after twenty minutes, resulting in two well crafted tries scored by the strong running Jack Wilesmith and Will Green. Evesham then fought their way back into contention with a try five minutes before the break, although a Luke White penalty restored Ledbury’s lead just before the whistle. Injuries to Wilesmith, Paul Williams and skipper Andy Cooper further disrupted the visitors and they were grateful to have replacements of the calibre of James Handley, Jamie Williams and Bruce Ruthven on the bench. The latter effectively wrapped up victory with a try seven minutes from time, converted by White, and Ledbury were content thereafter to play the touchlines and dominate the scrums to ease to a difficult but crucial win.
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