Whitchurch in third Midlands One West win

Whitchurch produced a typically defiant defensive performance as they beat Camp Hill to rack up their third consecutive Midlands One West win.

The Reds have now gone two consecutive games without letting the opposition cross their try line - and their overall points against tally of 59 is the lowest in the league.

But it might have been a different story at Edgeley Park on Saturday, had Camp Hill kicker In Briggs proved more accurate in his side's 10-3 loss.

With the wind behind him in the first half he missed four make-able penalty chances as the sides went in 0-0 at the break.

Briggs finally found his range early in the second half to open the scoring., but Whitchurch responded well.

They went ahead on 54 minutes, debutant winger Stefan Coombes going over in the corner before Danny Nicholas narrowly missed the conversion attempt.

Lee Blackhurst came on to replace Coombes for the final quarter of an hour and he had been on the pitch less than two minutes when he also went over in the corner to extend the north Shropshire side's advantage.

"It wasn't the most attractive of games," said Whitchurch president John Gregory. "But Camp Hill are a reasonable side and it was played very hard so we were pleased to come out on top."

Stirring

s Oswestry clawed their way off the bottom of South Lancs/Cheshire 1 as they claimed their first win of the campaign with a 17-15 victory over Sale at Park Hall.

The Eagles had to produce a stirring comeback to do it, coming out on top to send Sale to the foot in their place.

There was no sign of what was in store as Sale dominated the early exchanges with two tries and a penalty for a 15-0 lead.

Oswestry had been forced to name a side without a recognised kicker due to several injuries and that cost them as several penalty chances went begging.

But they were back in it before half-time, left winger Rob Massam scoring from 25 yards out after breaking through two tackles.

Andy Smith powered over early in the second period to reduce the deficit.

But the winning try was a product of the Hughes twins - Gareth breaking down the right then passing to Ivor, who outpaced the defence to score under the posts. Gareth Morris took the pressure kick, converting to sin the game.

By CHRIS HUDSON