Although Pershore’s preparation was a bit of a rush, their play in the first period was anything but. From the outset the visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck and didn’t let the Service any time to get going. Straight from the kick off, Pershore put pressure on the home team and controlled the play well, going close from the very first lineout, with good work from the forwards, just falling short of the opening score. Pershore didn’t let up and with Brian Ranns securing good lineout ball again, the Piddle park men drove towards the home team line and when the maul was collapsed and advantage played, the ball was moved quickly by Dave Oliver and Nick Creswick to send Calvin May scything through the middle and in under the post. Oliver Converted for a 0-7 lead.

Pershore controlled the early exchanges, with the slope in their favour, but Civil Service were not letting the game go away from them, making good ground from a Pershore mistake and converting a penalty from an infringement fro 3-7. The visiting team got straight back at their hosts though and once again good forward play from Damian May, Dan Mayfield and Matt Baker allowed Oliver to release Creswick, who dummied May this time to go through himself, with Oliver on target again for 3-14.

Although the visitors were in control for good periods of the first half, Civil Service looked strong in the backs and were dangerous on the break and but for some excellent cover tackling from Greg Hitchcock, Josh Hardiman and Mayfield, would have been closer at the interval. The home team unable to convert two penalties just before the break kept the scores at 3-14 at the interval.

After the break, Service got themselves back into the fight, following a Pershore mistake, diving from a well worked lineout, then in similar fashion to the visitors, quick ball away from the breakdown allowing a good score in the backs. The conversion missed, put the scores at 8-14, which was quickly followed by a another home team penalty fro 11-14 and with the visitors a little ruffled, the home team had their best period of the game.

Going into the last quarter, Pershore finally got back into the game and good defence allowed Oliver and Ash White to make good ground from clearance kicks to relieve the pressure, Richard Smith, Gav Roberts and Callum Connelly to the fore in the pressure cooker and Mark Battin and veteran Matt Harwood chasing well out wide.

The nearly moment of the game came from a set scrum, with Baker picking from the base, feeding Oliver who released White down the blind side, skipping past three cover defenders to touch down near the uprights, only for some wayward officiating bringing the play back for a lineout. Sadly the TMO was not available to the ref and the decision stood. Oliver hit two penalties of his own, to cap a good afternoon with the boot and seemingly take Pershore out of sight with only ten minutes left at 11-20. But the home team had none of it and hit straight back with a converted score for 18-20 for a nerve jangling last five minutes.

With the Piddle Park travelling faithful hardly able to watch and the coach pacing up and down, the clock seemed to slow down and time allowed for one last twist, with the home team awarded a penalty on the ten metre line, straight in front, only for the kick to drift agonisingly wide and hand Pershore the victory.

Pershore socials match was unfortunately postponed, so a number of the team joined forces with the local Vets/Social teams to play Upton Socials on Friday evening with good performances coming in from veteran Steve Holmes, Will Basford, Ben Andrews and first performance at scrum-half for the youngster Calum Andrews. A strong Upton team ran out narrow victors on an enjoyable night under floodlights.