EVESHAM stunned second-placed Ledbury with their eighth Counties 1 Midlands West (South) league win in a row.

Despite the rain causing plenty of cancellations around the Worcestershire area, the game was moved to the second-team pitch and it was game on between the third and second-placed teams in the division. 

After an untidy start, Evesham prop Jake Smith was able to dance his way through the Ledbury defence to touch down for the opening try of the afternoon, which Mike Diston converted (7-0).

Iolo Bubb did have an effort from the tee to reduce the early deficit with a penalty but the wind caught hold of it and Evesham were the next to score, extending their lead to 14-0 when Zach Shotton crossed following a driving line-out.

The wind was certainly Evesham’s friend, but a penalty for side entry by Ledbury again saw the home side team kick for the corner, from which Jake Smith easily scored their third try to make it 21-0.

Bubb slotted a penalty in front of the posts despite a powerful headwind to give Ledbury something to cling onto at the break.

The second half began well for Evesham, despite playing into the erratic wind, as they pressed the Ledbury line and when Arron Almond was yellow carded for a no-arms tackle, Evesham took advantage as Smith cantered over for his second try of the match (28-3).

Ledbury’s woes increased as they lost their hooker Cody Richardson Wall with a nasty leg injury shortly before a penalty awarded to Evesham was duly kicked into the corner for a lineout and a rampant Jake Smith burst through the errant Ledbury defence for his hat trick (35-3).

Evesham tails were up and Ledbury were at sixes and sevens struggling to contain them.

Ledbury did finally get over the line when Cam Smith gathered a clever chip kick to score in the corner and Bubb executed a difficult conversion to bring it back to 35-10.

But Evesham had the final say in the game when the winger darted over in the corner to complete a convincing 40-10 victory.