EVESHAM Rugby Club opened their 2019-20 season with a 24-13 victory at Woodrush in the North Midlands Shield.

The visitors controlled large parts of the game and were dominant in the scrum throughout.

Despite this the hosts stayed in touch on the scoreboard as the teams exchanged tries in the first half.

Evesham crossed the line three times through Andy Robinson, Will Bugg and Steve Brooks with Mike Diston converting

one to lead 17-13 at the break.

Woodrush missed a couple of penalty kicks early in the second period before Evesham closed the game out with a try for Jordan Izod on debut converted by Diston.

Evesham travel to Wolverhampton on Saturday for a first-round tie in the Midlands RFU Intermediate Cup before starting their Midlands 2 West (South) league campaign the following week.