Ledbury Rugby Club celebrated a resounding victory against Kidderminster Carolians, shutting them out with a 75-0 win, writes Roger Bateson.
The match, played as part of the Counties 1 Midlands West (South) League, saw Ledbury's 1st XV in top form at home on Saturday (December 6).
Arguably billed as a must win for both sides as the league progresses towards the Christmas break, no one would have predicted such an unbalanced encounter.
Ledbury took to the field with a number of returning players while Kidderminster struggle having lost a hefty number of key players in pursuit of lucre.
What unfolded was a clear morale booster for the home side after so many nearly rans, despite picking up crucial losing bonus points. The scrum was expectedly dominant but the true joy was to witness the backs enjoying a fluidity and accuracy as countless penetrations led to points, so elusive in previous matches.
In relatively dry and windless conditions, yet sticky underfoot, the early jostle saw a couple of penalties to either side before Rob Anscomb made a break and the ball weaved its way out to Max Hughes on the wing.
He wisely avoided running into touch by chipping back inside and a supporting Charlie Barber-Starkey gathered up and touched down for the first try, ably converted by Jack Hughes (7-0) after seven minutes. Chip and chase was to come into its own tactically on numerous occasions on the day.
Charlie Pallett on the opposite wing was almost through from the restart but for an errant forward pass and the Kidderminster defence held despite conceding a number of penalties and they soon battled back into the Ledbury half.
With Kidderminster pressing on the Ledbury 22 Max Hughes intercepted a sloppy pass, saw clear light ahead, and ran brilliantly the length of the pitch to score under the posts, duly converted by his brother Jack (14-0).
Not to be outdone Charlie Pallett on the opposite wing quickly made it (21-0) again Jack adding the extras within half an hour.
Desperate to get on the board before half time, the visitors gave it all but could not capitalise on some Ledbury penalties and ultimately gained a yellow card for an intentional knock on shortly before the whistle signalled the break.
From the Kidderminster restart Ledbury gathered and drove until Jack Hughes saw a chink and after a scintillating 30-metre break chipped out to Carlie Pallett who scored out wide (26-0).
Time for the forwards to exert their dominance and, from massive pressure through the phases, Kidderminster crumbled as Ed Wallin touched down, Jack Hughes back on target (33-0).
John Parker joined the fray bringing fresh legs to the backs and soon Jock Welch came on for his stint at the coalface in the front row following an injury to Will Lewis.
Shortly after Ed Wallin thought he was through for his second John Parker made his presence felt allowing Jack Hughes to kick through closely followed by a chip back inside from Charlie Pallett which George Wallin pounced on and it was soon (40-0) with the JH extras.
A somewhat disheartened Kidderminster received a discipline warning.
Following a Ledbury scrum on the halfway mark and some wonderful passing down the line, including Jock Welch doing his bit to assist in the middle, John Parker was through to make it (47-0).
In no time, with a hint of flow river flow, George Wallin made a scything run to make it (54-0) until John Parker broke through like a hot knife through butter and offloaded to Tom Hill who dinked through and touched down (61-0).
Once more, the visitor’s scrum collapsed and from the penalty, George Wallin was in again under the posts from a sustained drive, (68-0) with five minutes to go.
The relentless Ledbury pressure from the restart resulted in another Kidderminster penalty and as Tom Hill cleaned up from the line out and another penalty he cheekily dashed in for his second, which Jack Hughes converted from out wide and it was all over (75-0). A pretty impressive tally for his boot of 10 out of 11 conversions!
For once Ledbury gelled wonderfully as a team, seized their chances on every occasion, and got their just rewards after being so close in so many recent matches.
Hats off to all the squad for a scintillating team display of skill and brawn but special mention to the two sets of brothers, Ed and George Wallin and Jack and Max Hughes.
It’s away to Camp Hill next Saturday but, although they lie higher in the table and have not been beaten at home this season, Ledbury can travel with some new-found confidence, firm in the knowledge that they previously beat them at home in a Cup tie.
Share