Droitwich 38 - Evesham 22

Saturday 17th March 2007

Droitwich maintained their 100% league record on Saturday, but were made to fight hard by a spirited Evesham side. Also some dismal, and at times chaotic, defending didn’t do the home side any good.

Droitwich played with the blustery wind on their backs in the first period. Outside half Duncan Hughes aimed to kick the ball deep into the Evesham half to create territorial pressure. It was from this pressure that the ball was moved wide to Ben Cottrell, who straightened the line to feed Leon Hopkins. Hopkins used his pace to score in the corner. Hughes added the tricky conversion.

Evesham then rallied and through a series of driving rucks forced Droitwich back on to their own line. Droitwich then regained the ball, but crucially failed to clear, gifting the visitors a score.

The remainder of the half was well balanced before a neat blind side break by Hughes found Richard Allen who surged deep into the Evesham ‘22, only to be tackled metres short. The reliable Hughes was, however, on hand to get the score.

More Droitwich pressure forced a penalty ten metres from the visitors’ line, for the ever alert Nick Godfrey to take a quick tap and go over unopposed.

The second period saw the game become much more open with both teams attacking at every opportunity.

A fine break from inside his own half by number 8 Phil Horton left all of the defence for dead as his pace took him in under the posts to give Droitwich what seemed to be a match winning lead.

Superb handling by the home side saw them advance deep into the Evesham half for the ever impressive Ross Coombes to throw a fine dummy to go over for another score.

Hughes then showed a remarkable turn of speed to make a 40 metre break to feed Allen who raced in to complete Droitwich’s scoring.

More superb handling by Droitwich almost brought another score, but then a loose pass was intercepted for the Evesham winger to race three quarters of the length of the pitch to score.

A dropped pass in the Droitwich midfield was hacked forward. Once again Droitwich were guilty of poor defensive work and allowed Evesham to grab another try at the death.

After the game head coach, Danny Protherough had mixed views on Droitwich’s performance, “some of our handling and support play was simply breath taking, but on occasions our defence was utterly atrocious, something we will have to look very seriously at.”

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