'We've probably lost three for the rest of the season' - injury crisis at Ludlow

Head coach Tom Tench has urged his Ludlow charges to stay positive as they bid to turn their fortunes around.

Ludlow return to action on Saturday, after a free weekend, with a trip to local rivals Hereford - the only side below them in the Regional Two Midlands West standings.

They go into the clash on the back of three successive defeats and battling a mounting injury list.

Tench had more than 10 first-teamers missing for their last outing - a 59-17 defeat away to Dudley Kingswinford - and was hoping to have a few of his walking wounded back this weekend.

"We're in a difficult patch injury-wise," he said. "We've probably lost three for the rest of the season, potentially.

"We're just obviously in a bit of a bit of a rut at the moment, but other teams will have similar problems in terms of availability and what not.

"We're not going to be the only team that's going to struggle with injuries, but it just goes to show the size of our squad doesn't give us that kind of depth where we can handle having so many senior players out.

"So we will just regroup, and we have got to stay positive. The season is still very much in the early stages.

"We're lucky enough that people around us are losing as well, so although we're getting heavy defeats, we're still within the points range of teams."

And Tench was keen to highlight a couple of positives from the defeat away to DK.

"We had young Lewis Haddon come in for only a second appearance for the for the ones and we had a young 19-year-old prop, Edwin Carter, starting," added Tench. "He did really well and it was the best performance I've seen from him, he's definitely one for the future.

"So there were positives to take from the game with some of the young lads getting an opportunity and some exposure."