Ledbury - 1st XV: 57 - 13

Written by Roger Draper

Saturday, 29 September 2007

LETHARGIC Leamingtonians crashed to earth with a hefty bump against a fired-up Ledbury side fully capable of cashing in on hapless opponents. Both teams went into this Midlands Four West (South) fixture boasting 100 per cent records, but it was Ledbury who were able to extend their winning sequence to four matches as Leamingtonians subsided in sorry fashion. The visitors were forced into a flurry of late changes but this cannot be put forward as justified excuse for the way the team performed on an afternoon when Ledbury were given an armchair ride. They went in for eight tries with Leamingtonians restricted to a penalty and the conversion of a penalty try awarded for deliberate obstruction slap bang in front of the posts. There was little to choose between the terms of set-piece play, but the OLs were a woeful second best when it came to gaining loose possession, with far too many turn-overs obtained by a fast moving home back row who were able to orchestrate the easiest of victories. Disjointed and dispirited, Leamingtonians were a shadow of the side that had kick-started the campaign in such slick and penetrative fashion. They tried far too many adventurous moves, serving only to mesmerise each other in embarrassing fashion. On only two occasions did the ball travel along the threes in a direct fashion, but any point-scoring potential perished as both final passes were poorly delivered to allow Ledbury off the hook. Another concern was the wafer-thin defence against a tide of sweeping attacks. Tackles, often half-hearted, were missed and judging by this display something must be done to secure stiffer resistance when the team is forced to go backwards. No, this was a thoroughly bad day at the office and there will need to be a far more committed effort when Copsewood provide Saturday's opposition at The Crofts.

 

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