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Match report3 Nov 07 Ledbury’s first league game of the New Year ended in disappointment as they succumbed to a penalty try in the dying minutes at Kings Norton on Saturday. This late score was particularly hard to take as the away side had had fought back from 17 points to 6 down to take the lead with just twelve minutes left. Facing a considerable wind in cold sleety conditions, Ledbury sought to play their usual free flowing game from the start, but made little headway against a Birmingham team who were content to rely on the boot and rolling mauls. Close quarter work from the Kings Norton forwards after a scrum in the Ledbury twenty two created a try after fifteen minutes, converted from wide out. Penalties were exchanged towards the end of the first half, Ledbury’s fly half Luke White maintaining his excellent kicking form with three points. Turning round behind by seven points did not seem an insurmountable hurdle for Ledbury, especially as the scrum and line out once again proved to be sources of strength and possession. However, when a Kings Norton scored a further converted try after nearly a quarter of the second half, the home crowd scented victory. At this stage Ledbury began to play their best rugby of the match. Firstly a well taken try by Jack Wilesmith, assisted by White and Will Green, brought the scores close and then excellent interplay between the forwards saw Mike Dwyer crash over. White converted both tries and Ledbury seemed in control before Jock Welch was harshly yellow carded for collapsing a maul. Kings Norton used their extra forward to pressurise the Ledbury scrum for the first time and the awarding of a controversial penalty try on the Ledbury line left no time for a further comeback from the away team. Disappointment in the changing room soon turned to resolve to maintain the promotion push, and a determination to put things right in next Saturdays friendly at Tewkesbury, when the second team play a top of the Merit Table game at Ross
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