Crewe & Nantwich RUFC produced a fabulous performance for 80 minutes to beat second-placed Worcester 21-12.
And the victory has moved Crewe into fourth position in Midlands 1 West, just five points behind Worcester.
With a large and vocal crowd at the Vagrants in Willaston, Crewe & Nantwich turned in what head coach Andy Dudley called their best performance of the season.
Worcester kept possession early on but failed to convert to points and their frustration started to show.
Slowly, the tide turned and Crewe started to win some possession as Worcester made errors.
After 15 minutes, a yellow card was issued to flanker Josh Collins (pictured), for an apparently dangerous tackle but Crewe were not phased.
Playing with 14 men, scrum-half Charlie Hutchings drove his forwards on in multiple phases of play making good ground.
The pressure eventually told, winning two penalties, both for offside, outside the Worcester 22 and both were converted by fullback Toby Ward.
Crewe’s defensive line led by Mike Greatbanks, was working well and is starting to look a formidable unit.
And their first try came as Collins rejoined the action.
No 8 Kirk Robinson picked up from the base of a strong Crewe scrum and charged in field setting up a ruck.
The ball was moved swiftly to the right through the backs from Hutchings and fly-half Scott Cann.
More rucks followed with a series of pick and drives, and finally Robinson powered his way over the line for the score for a 11-0 half-time lead.
Crewe started the second half well but Worcester conjured up a fine try of their own.
From a lineout just outside the Crewe 22, the Worcester forwards set up a driving maul releasing quick ball to the backs.
The fly-half dummied and popped the ball up to their centre, Ollie Meadows, who smashed through the Crewe defence to score a converted try near the posts for 11-7.
Crewe hit back and incisive running by Joe Gammage, Tim Cowap and Toby Ward put Worcester on the defensive.
A line break by Roberts outside the Worcester 22 resulted in a loose ball and flanker, Josh Cillins, hacked through and dived on it over the line for a try.
Worcester’s forwards then engineered a pushover try which was not converted, 18-12.
With replacements prop Al Hargreaves, 2nd row Pat Fray and wing Gareth Barton making significant impacts, Crewe kept control of the ball and field position.
Worcester conceded a penalty for holding on in the tackle and Ward slotted over a 35-metre penalty to add three more points for 21-12.
Crewe saw out for the final three minutes against a quality team.
Director of rugby Andy Brown said: “From 1 – 18, every player put in a great shift and set a new bench mark as this team continues to show progression.
“A great game from both teams, fantastic support from the crowd and an excellent surface.”
Crewe & Nantwich: Merril, Woodward, Guy, Alcock, McGregor, Buckley, Collins , Robinson, Hutchings, Cann, Cowap, Roberts, Greatbanks, Gammage, Ward. Subs Hargreaves, Fray, Barton
Crewe are back in action in two weeks at home to Earlsdon, kick off 2.15pm.
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