HEAD coach Andy Black believes Tenbury RFC’s gritty win over Claverdon was a huge psychological boost for his side as they re-adapt to life at a higher level.

Tenbury put their opening-day defeat at Bromyard behind them to get off the mark in Midlands Four West South by grinding out a 8-5 victory.

And while the encounter was far from pretty, Black was delighted to see his side record back-to-back victories following their RFU Junior Vase win at Cannock a week earlier.

“It’s early days but to get a league win under our belts was important psychologically. It will help to build the confidence within the team,” said Black.

“We didn’t quite play to our full potential on Saturday and we have to learn from that. Their score didn’t come from the skill of the opposition, it was from our error.

“If we played at 80 per cent last season, we could get away with it but if you play at 80 per cent in this league you will suffer and make things hard for yourselves. But a win’s a win.

“I think the conditions were partially to blame for some of our handling errors – it was hard work in the rain and wind but it didn’t deter us from trying to run the ball, as is the Tenbury style.”

Handling errors from both sides made a scrappy first half a stop-start affair but Tenbury scored the only try as Matt Tomlin’s break led to Claude Celton kicking ahead and downing the ball over the line.

Claverdon levelled early in the second half as their scrum-half dummied over from the base of a ruck but Zac Thompson kicked a match-winning penalty 11 minutes from time to give Tenbury victory.