Pack back after prop's wedding (From Cotswold Journal)

Pack back after prop's wedding

11:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport

THE honeymoon period is over for Pershore Rugby Club who can now get their Midlands Three West (South) promotion charge back on track.

Loosehead prop Alex Peel jetted off to Mexico to get married recently and, rather inconveniently for Pershore, took four fellow first-choice forwards with him to join the celebrations.

Having hardly put a foot wrong all season, the understrength Piddle Parkers suffered a 46-12 drubbing at Pinley before snatching a 24-23 win at basement boys Redditch last weekend.

With third-placed Pershore’s promotion hopes beginning to wobble, the runaway bridegroom and his wedding party are back and ready to beef up the pack for Saturday’s home derby with Evesham (3pm).

Pershore’s Karl Evans is delighted to have a full-power pack but admits promotion is an uphill struggle with clear daylight between them and leading duo Old Coventrians and Old Leamingtonians.

Evans said: “The two sides above us have breathing space but they play each other this weekend.

“We would need Old Covs to win and Old Leams to take nothing from the game. Then if we can win our four remaining games, all with bonus points, we would pip them to second place.

“We have to do our part, though, so will be concentrating on trying to beat Evesham with a bonus point.

“Alex went to Mexico to get married and took another prop, a hooker, a lock and a back row with him, which decimated our pack, but they’re all available now.”

Evesham head coach Gary Diston said: “We are looking forward to the game and it is always nice to play the locals.

“We should have everyone available for selection so we have no excuses.

“Pershore are going well so that gives us an incentive to try and turn them over.

“We are pretty much safe in the league now so we have been looking to bring as many of our promising youngsters into the first XV as possible with one eye on next season.”