Sils v Pershore

The first quarter of the game was to be all Sils, with the home side dominating territory and threatening the Pershore line with a series of attacks that were, frustratingly, to come up just short, be it the result of a last ditch tackle, misplaced pass or breakdown in communication. After twenty minutes there was little to show for the pressure exerted, though Harry Law’s penalty did at least get the scoreboard moving shortly after.
 
Pershore tried repeatedly to string quick phases together in an effort to release their big runners through the loose, and several breaks by their highly effective back row ensured the Sils defence were kept very much on their toes. It was much to the relief of another good home crowd, therefore, that things were to soon click into place for the Sils and some breathing space created, as a fine break down the line by flanker Cameron Law allowed lock Chris McDermott to stretch his legs and finish under the posts. 10-0 to the Sils. This was followed by another bout of home pressure, and when turnover ball was shipped out to Law, it was his turn to cross the line and add another score to the tally. 17-0 at half-time.
 
As recent results have shown, Pershore were unlikely to simply call it a day, and it was with this thought in mind that the Sils came out in the second half with the determination to kill this game off. Again, excellent harrying around the fringes and tight-knit defence across the pitch stifled much of Pershore’s phase play, with turnover ball providing the opportunity to attack a disorganised line at speed. An excellent inside pass by full back Steve Hawkins to flanker Alex ‘Wasp’ Roper was to finally unlock the defence after some superb build-up, and with Harry Law adding the extra the score moved to 24-0 with half an hour left to play.
 
As the Sils soon found out, Pershore were far from finished, and two well-taken tries in an electric ten minute period got the home supporters’ hearts beating as the visitors drew within twelve points of the Sils, with momentum firmly on their side. The visitors’ hopes were, however, soon to be quashed, with skipper Jim Roper finishing a quickly taken penalty and his own chip through in style to extend the lead and, in turn, secure the bonus point. 31-12.
 
With ten minutes to go, there was still time for two further scores, the first by Pershore as their pack drove over from close in, before replacement prop Loz White secured the last word for the Sils, scrambling over with a number of defenders holding onto him to cap a fine home performance. 36-19 the final score.