Shropshire’s interest in the Intermediate Cup is over for another year – with Ludlow and Bridgnorth both bowing out in the second round.

Ludlow went down 18-9 at home to Worcester Wanders in what was always likely to be a tricky encounter.

The south Shropshire men have been going well in Midlands 2 West (North), but found themselves out-gunned by a Worcester side who still boast a 100 per cent record in the southern equivalent.

Two Will Norton penalties put the hosts 6-3 up by half-time at The Linney, but

Wanderers responded with two tries early in the second half.

Norton kicked a third penalty to close the deficit but Ludlow’s hopes of a fightback were damaged with 10 minutes to go when Darren Brick was sin-binned for an alleged stamping.

And Worcester made the extra man count, scoring their third try with the last play of the game.

“It was disappointing,” said Ludlow’s director of rugby Phil Norton. “They deserved the win overall, but it was still a game we actually could have won.”

Bridgnorth’s hopes ended with a 37-15 defeat away at Droitwich, having been beset by injuries and late cry-offs as well as losing Dan Kirby to an early head injury.

The All Blacks started brightly with a strong wind, the sun and the slope in their favour – and they were in front when Matt Payne out-stripped the defence to score. Chris Cadwallader converted.

Cadwallder also kicked a long-range penalty in the first half but Bridgnorth were depleted by sin-binnings for Liam Holland and James Corfield in quick succession.

Droitwich made their numerical superiority count, levelling the scores by the interval.

The second half belonged to the hosts, with Danny Markevics’ try in the corner their only moment to celebrate.

Instead, Droitwich exploited huge gaps in the Bridgnorth defence to score five second half tries.