Bishop's Castle 0 Veseyans 6 pts

AFTER spending most of the first half defending, the Castle came out after the break and gave as good as they got to leave the final result, in this top-of-the-table clash in North Midlands One, in doubt right until the final whistle.

The larger and physically stronger visiting side, which boasts a 100 per cent record, totally dominated the first half. The home team were pinned back in their own half for long periods, and the only way their defence could hold out was to concede a string of penalties.

Fortunately for them the Veseyans kicker was off-form and contrived to miss his first five efforts, which were all kickable. During the final ten minutes of the half he did manage to notch a couple of efforts to give his side some reward for their domination.

The half-time pep-talk worked as the home side contributed to a much better spectacle after the break. They enjoyed more territory in an end-to-end half, but found the leader's defence in resolute form.

Castle increased the tempo in the final few minutes to camp on the Veseyans line, and on another day may have found the referee more sympathetic towards their appeals for a penalty try.