Ludlow promotion hopes in tatters

Ludlow's Midlands Two West (North) promotion ambitions have been left in tatters by a shock defeat to lowly Willenhall.

The south Shropshire were beaten 13-5 by the Black Country strugglers as hopes of a play-off place drifted further away.

Ludlow are now six points adrift of second placed Old Saltleians, although do have two games in hand.

"They out-played us in the scrum and the line-out," admitted spokesman Phil Norton.

"We were 3-0 down at half-time after they came up the hill in the first half and it was always going to be a struggle after that.

"It makes life very difficult for us now if we want to get second position and the play-off spot."

Willenhall took the lead with a first half penalty but Tom Waters crossed the line for the visitors to give Ludlow a 5-3 lead.

But Willenhall added a converted try and a penalty to inflict a fourth defeat of the season on Ludlow.

Bridgnorth were another team to find themselves on the wrong end of an upset as they were beaten 17-10 at bottom club Ashbourne.

All the damage was done in the first half as the visitors found themselves trailing 17-0 as they struggled playing uphill in wet conditions.

Bridgnorth rallied after the break with Matt Farrington scoring a penalty and then adding a conversion after Mike Preece crossed the line for a try.

But, despite plenty of pressure, they couldn't muster the second try which would have levelled the scores.

Shrewsbury slipped into the bottom three after going down 33-10 at home to Old Saltleians.

And it left captain Paul Bolland admitting: "Our position is still a bit dodgy and we need a couple of wins."

Shrewsbury made a slow start, conceding two early converted tries before Kiwi debutant Matt Broich crossed the line for a score, Dan Harrison adding the extras.

Both sides had opportunities in the second half but, after Harrison had kicked a penalty to reduce the gap to 11 points, Old Salts ran in two further tries one of which was converted to put the game beyond doubt.