LEDBURY Rugby Club continued their perfect start to 2015 with a stunning 47-0 hammering of title-chasing Bedworth at Ross Road.

The sixth-placed Midlands Three West (South) side previously beat lowly Southam 26-12 and struggling Upton 10-7 this year.

Bedworth were expected to be a different proposition, being in second position before the clash, but Ledbury strolled to a seven-try victory.

Skipper Rob Anscomb’s absence saw fly-half Harry Bee take the captaincy and the visitors won the toss before playing downhill with a strong wind behind them.

The first 20 minutes saw the two teams share possession and an early scuffle saw Bee sin-binned.

But the hosts soon went ahead when scrum-half Scott Matthews saw space in behind and put in a neat kick before gathering to go over near the corner.

George Bennion converted and then added the extras again in tricky conditions as Ledbury doubled their lead.

Gary Nicholson picked up from the base of a scrum on halfway and the ball went through Matthews and full-back Matt Hallett.

The latter burst through the defence and offloaded for supporting winger Kev Murphy to dive over.

The dominant 14 men scored again when Nicholson drew in the disorganised defence from a scrum and centre Chris Stokes was on his shoulder to go over under the posts.

Bennion again converted to make the scoreline 21-0 at the break.

Bedworth had brief possession in the second period but solid defence meant little ground was made.

The hosts sealed the four-try bonus point when Bennion scored in the corner.

Replacement Ali Park then ripped through with his first touch before being brought down five metres out. Bennion was first to pick up the loose ball and dive over for an unconverted score.

Ledbury’s game now fired on all cylinders and they increased their lead as Murphy burst though weak tackling and offloaded for Hallett to touch down under the posts.

Bennion’s conversion increased the advantage to 33-0.

Replacement Sam Peplow made ground from the kick-off and Hallett barged through from distance before providing Park with a try in the corner.

Bennion landed the extras again and then found Hallett, who scorched in for the final converted try from 60 metres.

Arron Almond, man-of-the-match Nat Jenkins and Nicholson impressed at the breakdown with the whole pack tackling well.

Ledbury, who are two points off fourth, visit seventh-placed Cheltenham North tomorrow with several players ruled out.