Tenbury Rugby Club's Pete Stevens 'still hurts' from home capitulation against Clee Hill Rugby Club last season (From Ludlow Advertiser)

5:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

SKIPPER Pete Stevens believes the scars from Tenbury’s shock capitulation 12 months ago can inspire his high-flying side.

Tenbury surrendered a 22-3 lead against Clee Hill in their last meeting at Palmer’s Meadow and crashed to a jaw-dropping 32-22 defeat.

But Stevens says his promotion- chasing side can set the record straight in this Saturday’s Midlands Four West (North) derby.

“I still feel the hurt from when they beat us at the Palmer’s last season,” admitted Stevens.

“Even now, when I think of that match against Clee Hill, it brings a lump to my throat.

“I always try to talk matches down with the lads but you can’t pretend that a local derby against Clee Hill is just any other game.”

Richard Wozencroft bagged a hat-trick earlier this season as Tenbury sealed a 27-18 success at Hill in the teams’ first meeting.

Stevens says he is wary of Hill’s recent form and rates the strength of their pack.

“I know their captain, Matt Bowen well - he’s a mate of mine.

“I am looking forward to shaking his hand before the game and again at the end.

“But there will be no love lost in between. It’s going to be very interesting. They have some strong forwards and we have to be at our best.

“Their pack is quite good and I rate Bowen and Richard Fletcher. Bowen is a strong runner but we, too, have some excellent players.

“We have come on leaps and bounds this season and we can’t afford to lose another game.”

Former Clee Hill skipper Gary Edwards hopes the visitors can repeat last season’s heroics at Palmer’s Meadow.

“We can more than match them in the forwards and give them a game and, hopefully, do what we did last season,”

said Edwards.

“We don’t want Tenbury to go up or Bromyard to go down.”

“We want them both to stay in this division. With Cleobury likely to come down, there could be some excellent derbies in the league next season.”

Stevens says his Tenbury team have learnt a lot this campaign.

“We play as a team and every person is giving 110 per cent effort and commitment at the moment.”

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