Ludlow Rugby Club head coach Dave Irish delighted with Will Green after 31-20 defeat against Whitchurch (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow Rugby Club head coach Dave Irish delighted with Will Green after 31-20 defeat against Whitchurch in Midlands One West

6:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

LUDLOW Rugby Club head coach Dave Irish was delighted with the returning Will Green - despite a 31-20 defeat against Shropshire rivals Whitchurch.

Green was among the try-scorers for Ludlow, who trailed 19-0 early in Saturday’s Midlands One West derby.

“Whitchurch came out with a greater intensity and we gave them a 19-0 lead,” said Irish.

“We kept pushing and played some good rugby but you can’t afford to give any side a 19-point head-start.

“We were very pleased to welcome back Will Green after an ankle problem. He played half-an-hour and scored a try.”

Joe Doyle and Darren Brick also scored tries for Ludlow, while Will Norton kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Ludlow hit back to cut the deficit to 19-10 before Whitchurch pulled away to record a league double.

Irish’s men host high-flying Worcester Wanderers at The Linney this Saturday and then travel to table-topping Old Halesonians seven days later.

“The pressure will be off us in the next two games and we can try to work on a few areas of our play,” said Irish, Ludlow are still without injured trio Dan Rawlings, Tom Rawlings and Matt Wilkes.

Clee Hill overturned a 6-0 half-time deficit to record an impressive 19-9 home win over Harborne in Midlands Four West (North).

The win extends Hill’s unbeaten run to three games.

With Harborne down to 14 men, Robert Fletcher crossed the line from a five-metre ruck which Craig Breakwell converted.

Adam Yarnold raced under the posts to score a converted try and then Richard Fletcher forced his way over the line to wrap up Hill’s success.

Cleobury Mortimer had a disappointing afternoon, losing 31-15 at Bloxwich in Midlands Three West North.

Former Cleobury star Paul Hulland and ex-Ludlow and Tenbury player Chris Harris each scored a try in Luctonians’ 48-32 home win over Hull in National Two North.