Droitwich Spa 39 Shipston-on-Stour 0

Midlands Division Four West (South)

DROITWICH RFC enhanced their promotion credentials even further by inflicting a heavy defeat of bottom side Shipston-on-Stour in the Midlands Division Four West (South) on Saturday.

Victory propelled Spa into third place and kept them just two points behind joint leaders Stourbridge and Edwardians.

Droitwich were made to work hard by the basement side, restricted to one try in the first half, before cutting loose in the second to record their biggest win of the season.

Spa went into the game on the back of a hard fought win over Brackley in the Powergen Junior Vase and they continued their excellent form.

However, Shipston worked hard to deny Droitwich a scoring chance but could not resist the mounting pressure they were placed under.

Ben Cottrell slipped the ball to Leon Hopkins who sped past two Shipston defenders to score a try, which was converted by Matt Blackmore.

The try opened the floodgates in the second half as Droitwich produced their most flowing rugby of the season.

Substitute Jimmy Richardson added more cutting edge to Droitwich's attacks.

James Davies broke from a maul to score under the posts, while Blackmore converted.

Spa carved open Shipston with an elaborate six-pass move and hooker Andy Mann touched down.

Blackmore added Spa's fourth try, before Hopkins grabbed his third after incisive play by Dean Goddard and Simon Pearse.

Droitwich begin their difficult run-in to Christmas by going to mid-table Cleobury on Saturday, November 10.

Spa then play Lancashire side Aldwinians in the next round of the Powergen Vase away a week later.