TENBURY’S cup opponents Barton-under-Needwood have more to worry about than their hosts this weekend, insists Palmers Meadow supremo Andy Black.

Both sides go into the Midlands Junior Vase quarter-final – four wins from a Twickenham national final – on the back of league wins last weekend.

Barton edged out Tenbury’s neighbours Clee Hill 22-21 in Midlands Four West North while Black’s side recorded an impressive 25-10 win over Old Yardleians in Midlands Four West South.

However, Tenbury have a 100 per cent home record this season and made it all the way to the Midlands final of last season’s competition when playing a division below.

Black said: “Clee Hill are performing very well so Barton’s win against them is something we need to look at but they need to travel well too.

“Some clubs are not managing to travel well to Palmers Meadow and if Barton want to do well in the cup, they will need to bring the same team that beat Clee Hill.

“They are a couple positions above us in their respective league but we aren’t daunted by that – it’s just another challenge for us.

“They could well look at what we did last weekend, where we played a team that was second in the league and we put a number of points on them.”

Tenbury trailed to an early Yardleians penalty but turned matters around to lead 10-3 at the break as Callum Spires offloaded to Luke Gill for the opening try and Tom Lawson went over for the second.

Three more unconverted tries stretched the lead to 25-3 after the break, all coming from speedster Gill, with a late Yards consolation and a red card for Paddy Waite the only negatives for Tenbury.

Victory left Tenbury sixth and Black said: “Top three is the aim. We have produced some really good rugby this season and last – and we are building on what we achieved last season.

“Some of the losses this season have been character-building for us. It’s given us an opportunity to reflect on the squad and given us something to focus on.”

Clee Hill’s loss to Barton, meanwhile, was not the warm-up they were hoping for ahead of their own Midlands Vase quarter-final, a daunting trip to all-conquering Northampton Men’s Own.

Northampton have won all seven of their opening league games, scoring a whopping 376 points and conceding just 42 – an average win margin of 54-6.

The defeat leaves Clee Hill fifth in Midlands Four West North but they are just four points off top spot and have a game in hand on everyone above them.

Elsewhere, a last-gasp Alex Sparks drop goal earned Cleobury Mortimer an 8-6 win over Telford Hornets in Midlands Three West North, Josh Winfield having scored their earlier try.