Old Halesowen 5, Shipston 14pts

SHIPSTON recorded their second successive away league victory with an impressive display against their second-placed hosts.

For the first time this season the visitors had the luxury of fielding an unchanged team and confidence and enthusiasm was the key to pinning the home side down deep in their own half.

The Mayo Road forwards looked to dominate the ball in open play. The back row trio of Sam Russell, Bill Organ and man of the match Dave Harrison combined well, while the back line looked impressive going forward with some positive running from Dave Graham and Darren Koopal.

However, the Halesowen defence dug in deep and prevented any early concessions.

Halesowen gained confidence from their stout defence and looked to break out of their own half and, for a period of the match, much of the game was played around halfway.

However, the Shipston backs ran the ball wide breaking the defence and raced into the home side's 22, from where Mick Lissington charged down a clearance kick to score the first try. Sam Rainbow made the conversion from wide out.

With half-time looming, Halesowen panicked somewhat and Carl Hamilton made an interception and ran in untouched. Rainbow again added the conversion.

Halesowen started the second half with much more passion and possession and the Shipston defence needed to stand strong.

In doing so it was from a defensive scrum that Bill Organ was sin-binned for a minor altercation with his opposite number. However, the defence didn't weaken and it took an unlucky clearance kick to go straight to the arms of winger Robert Olney who ran in for a try.

Shipston rallied again and put a lot of pressure on the home side finishing the game much of the stronger out of the two sides with both Merv Brown and Dave Graham going close to scoring, only to be pulled back by the referee.

On the final whistle it was Shipston who were going forward again and they will be keen to keep up this style of play in Saturday's league game against Kings Norton.

The following weekend, Ship-ston will be looking to go one better than last season when they play host to Henley Wanderers in the fifth round of the Powergen Junior Vase.

The Oxfordshire side currently boasts an unbeaten record in Berks, Bucks and Oxon and will prove formidable opponents for Simon Baldwyn's men.