CLEOBURY Mortimer Rugby Club captain Will Bache may not retire at the end of the season if his side gains promotion this season.

Bache has been at the club for 20 years and thought that was an ideal time to say goodbye.

But after seeing his side obliterate everyone so far this season, he admits he may hang around.

“If we get promoted, the players are saying that I have to stay on, so we’ll see,” said Bache.

“I am enjoying it and the whole atmosphere is brilliant, there is definitely a really good feeling around the place.”

The Worcestershire side are 13 points clear in the Midlands Four (West) table having won all of their games and acquiring seven try bonus- try points.

They face arguably their toughest test this Saturday when they entertain nearest challengers Cannock.

Despite rattling in an astonishing 346 points in their seven games and concedinged only 20, Bache says he is not so naive as to believe they can go the whole season unbeaten.

“I am under no illusions that Cannock will come to us wanting to win and they have a big pack,” said Bache.

“They have a big pack, so I will be hoping we can get the ball to our backs and get the right result.

“If anything, I am waiting for a hiccup and I am not naive enough to think we can win every game.

“Some of the young lads probably think we can go the whole season unbeaten, but I have been in the team long enough to know that this is a tough league.

“But if we enforce our game on them, rather than them enforcing theirs on us, then we should be alright.”

Last Saturday, Cleobury were handed a bye into the next round of the Midlands Junior Vase after Five Ways Old Edwardians could not raise a side.

Bache understands why Alex and Ben Howman and Dave Shorter are grabbing the headlines due to their try-scoring exploits so far this season, but the captain said that ex-Luctonians player Paul Hulland is having a huge influece on the side.

“You cannot underestimate the influence that he is having on the team,” said Bache.

“He is bringing Sam Sutton and Dave Leach through really well.

“But everyone from one to 19 are playing really well and you cannot knock them.

“Our vice-captain Josh Phillips is also leading the way and bridging the gap between the young and older players.”

Bishops Castle are out of the Junior Vase though after narrowly losing 15-12 to Evesham.

Matt Davies and Jonathan Stokes both scored tries for Castle, with captain Jack Holloway adding a conversion.

But the home side were always playing catch-up during the tie, leaving Holloway frustrated.

“We had a couple of chances in the last few minutes to win the game, but made a couple of bad decisions,” said Holloway.

Castle entertain Market Drayton this Saturday in Midlands Four West (North) and are hopeful of having a full squad to choose from for the key match. “We were missing six to seven players last week, so we are trying to get everyone back for Saturday,” said Holloway added.