WHITCHURCH suffered late heartache in a 20-17 defeat at home to Newbold in Midlands One West.

Two disallowed tries for the home team should have given them victory early on but the referee saw things differently and so the tight score was overturned in 86th minute.

Newbold led with an early try only for the Reds to hit back when Nathan Horton broke through and fed Steve Bloore who demolished the last line of defence to score in the corner.

However Newbold restored their lead at the break with a penalty seeing them five points to the good at the break.

The second-half started with Whitchurch on top and they made it count when Henry Hockenhull came into the line to break the defence and free James Marvell to score.

Jake Dodwell’s conversion attempt missed by inches to leave the scores level but the visitors soon restored their lead with a penalty.

A kick and chase by Marvell saw him touch down again but the referee ruled out the effort having adjudged a knock on which incensed the home pack.

The Reds were galvanised and a five minute spell of power rugby culminated in a second try for Bloore which was converted by Dodwell.

However the match remained in the balance and with the match deep into stoppage time the visitors snatched a last gasp try to break the hearts of Whitchurch,

Meanwhile the club’s second string enjoyed better fortune in the NOWIRUL The Right Broker Division Three South with the Reds storming to a 64-7 win.

The hosts celebrated 10 tries while Tom Skone added seven conversions to maintain their lead at the summit.

The first-half saw tries from Darren Blackhurst and Bryan Torskji cross before the Reds pulled away after the break with tries from Skone, Hayden Evans, Dane Tinsley, Andy Muir, Matt Grinley, two from Jimmy Leedham and another from Torskji.

Meanwhile the club’s colts also toasted a 22-7 win at home to Rossendale,

Two tries apiece from James Mallin and Ben Mason were sufficient, with a conversion from Sam Appleby, as Whitchurch celebrated a well-deserved victory.

This week sees the first team travel to Halesonians and the second team visit Linley and Kidsgrove.