Ledbury secured a convincing victory over Camp Hill, demonstrating resilience and skill in their Counties 1 Championship Cup opener.
The match took place on Saturday (September 20) at Ledbury's home ground, marking the first of three encounters between the two teams this season.
With the floodlights illuminating the pitch amid a gloomy sky and fine drizzle, the atmosphere was set for an exciting clash.
Camp Hill initiated the game, quickly pressing into Ledbury's half.
However, an interception by Iolo Bubb allowed Ledbury to regain possession, although the visitors soon earned a penalty that they failed to convert.
The home side advanced downfield but conceded a couple of penalties, giving Camp Hill another opportunity to score, which they again missed.
Ledbury's fortunes changed when Harry Harris disrupted a throw-in, leading to a penalty opportunity for Jack Hughes, who calmly slotted the ball through the posts to give Ledbury a three-point lead after 12 minutes.
Despite Ledbury's early advantage, the match remained tightly contested.
Camp Hill attempted to exploit gaps in Ledbury's defence but were thwarted by strong tackles.
The home side's persistence paid off when they executed a well-coordinated play involving Will Lewis, Harry Harris, and Iolo Bubb, culminating in George Wallin crossing the try line.
Wallin converted his own try, extending Ledbury's lead to 10 points before the half-time whistle.
Ledbury kicked off for the second half but were soon in trouble as a penalty led to a yellow card for Archie Allcock for a tip tackle.
Camp Hill capitalised, scoring a try in the corner to narrow the gap to five points.
However, Ledbury responded swiftly.
Josh Bishop broke through the defence and scored in the corner, with Jack Hughes converting brilliantly to restore a 12-point lead.
Following the restart, Camp Hill's kick went straight out, giving Ledbury a scrum.
The home side's dominant pack earned another penalty, but Camp Hill's defence held firm against several Ledbury attacks.
The visitors then received a yellow card for a no hands, no nothing, crunching tackle, allowing Ledbury to benefit from another penalty, which Hughes converted to make it 20-5.
As the match progressed, Camp Hill struggled with discipline, conceding multiple penalties, including one that saw them marched back an additional ten metres.
Hughes capitalised on this, adding another three points to the scoreboard, bringing the final score to 23-5.
Despite moments of indiscipline from both sides, Ledbury's performance was a marked improvement from previous weeks, showcasing their grit and determination against an arguably much stronger opponent.
Looking ahead, Ledbury Firsts will enjoy a week off before travelling to Worcester for their next league fixture, set for an early kick-off at 12 noon.
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