Tenbury Rugby Club skipper Pete Stevens fears 'promotion dreams are over' after 19-16 defeat against Uttoxeter in Four West (North) (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Tenbury Rugby Club skipper Pete Stevens fears 'promotion dreams are over' after 19-16 defeat against Uttoxeter in Four West (North)

2:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

Tenbury 16 pts Uttoxeter 19 pts

CAPTAIN Pete Stevens believes Tenbury’s promotion dreams have died after a last-gasp drop-goal broke their hearts at Palmer’s Meadow.

Ben King’s 77th-minute penalty looked to have salvaged a draw for Tenbury but Uttoxeter snatched the win with the final kick of the match.

“As the ball was going through the posts, the referee blew the final whistle,” said Stevens, whose side have slipped to fourth in Midlands Four West (North).

“We had a strong team out and they matched us all over the park.

“We knew we had to win and we now think that Market Drayton and Uttoxeter will go up. But if Cleobury come down and Bromyard stay in our division, we will have a nice local league next season.”

Tenbury have another tough task this Saturday, travelling to table-topping Market Drayton.

“Market Drayton will be a different game to last weekend and then we have a month without a league match,” said Stevens.

“Uttoxeter are a very physical side but Market Drayton are full of quick runners. Whatever happens, this season has been fantastic - every Tenbury player has worked so hard.

“King is having a great season but flanker Chuck Parry is the star of the show every week and his turnovers are fantastic.”

Tenbury were cheered on by their vice-presidents against third-placed Uttoxeter last weekend, and took the lead through King’s penalty. The visitors soon drew level but Tenbury dominated a 10-minute spell and were awarded a penalty- try after Luke Brittain was illegally hauled down.

King slotted the conversion to give Tenbury a 10-3 advantage.

The visitors replied with a try and a penalty to go 11-10 ahead but King’s second penalty gave Tenbury a 13- 11 interval advantage.

Uttoxeter came out fighting in the second half, regaining the lead through their second try.

Tenbury won another penalty with three minutes remaining and King kept his nerve to level the scores at 16-16.

Stevens said: “We would have been happy with a draw but Uttoxeter won the ball after the restart.

“We weren’t quick enough to close down their fly-half, who drop-kicked it over from our 22-metre line.”

Stevens added: “We went back to Penlu and we all had a fantastic night. The score was soon forgotten about.

“We had won by a point at Uttoxeter and we were lucky to have done that.

"And on Saturday, I think they would admit they were lucky to have beaten us.”