Ludlow Rugby Club's coach Dave Irish targets 50 points for Midlands One West survival (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow Rugby Club's coach Dave Irish targets 50 points for Midlands One West survival

5:00pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

COACH Dave Irish says Ludlow Rugby Club might need 50 points to win their fight for survival.

The Linneymen are just one place above the Midlands One West drop zone with a 22-point haul.

They have crucial matches next month against three of their relegation rivals.

“It looks like you might need to get 50 points to be safe in this league,” said Irish, whose Ludlow side have 10 matches remaining and travel to sixth-placed Stratford-upon-Avon this Saturday.

co“It’s a tough league and, on the day, anyone can beat anyone. We think we are going to be OK. “It’s three down and five clubs, including us, have been cut adrift from the top half of the league. “If we slip back into the bottom three, we believe we are in a strong position to climb back out.” Hooker Matt Wilkes has made a magnificent recovery after a serious neck injury against Stoke earlier in the season.

Wilkes played 40 minutes in the second team’s win over Bridgnorth but he might not be ready for Ludlow’s trip to Stratford this weekend. Ludlow suffered a narrow 19-13 home defeat against Stratford on October 6. Irish’s men have won four of their last nine matches. They had a poor start to season, losing their first seven games. Ludlow’s trip to table-topping Old Halesonians last Saturday was postponed because of snow and it is now on February 9. “We have points in the bag and we need to keep above the bottom three,” said Irish, who is enjoying his first season at Ludlow’s helm. “It looks like Camp Hill and Northwich are struggling badly at the bottom.”

Barkers Butts are in the third relegation place – with three fewer points than Ludlow – and travel to The Linney in March. Ludlow make the trip to Berkswell and Balsall – who are just two points and one place above them – on March 9 and host bottom-of-the-table Camp Hill on March 23.

Irish added: “Barkers Butts have to come down to us and that’s going to be a massive game. Camp Hill have also got to come to us.”