Ludlow Rugby Club's Matt Wilkes calls for big effort in Midlands One West relegation battle with Barkers Butts (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow Rugby Club's Matt Wilkes calls for big effort in Midlands One West relegation battle with Barkers Butts

11:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

HOOKER Matt Wilkes is urging his team-mates to put in the hard yards to avoid relegation from Midlands One West.

Ludlow face their biggest game of the season against relegation rivals Barkers Butts at The Linney this Saturday.

Wilkes has returned to firstteam action after a three-month lay-off caused by a serious back injury at Stoke.

He is demanding more commitment from Ludlow’s firstteam players at training tonight (Thursday).

“We need more players to turn up for training and to work hard,” said Wilkes.

Ludlow are in the relegation zone and must overcome Barkers Butts in this weekend’s do-or-die battle. Barkers are just one place above Ludlow and four points better off than the Shropshire outfit.

Ludlow’s coach Dave Irish was hoping to get a glimpse of Barkers in action last weekend.

However, Barkers’ home match against Hereford was called off due to a frozen pitch.

“There’s a buzz around the club and we are confident we can make a game of it,” said Irish. “Things are shaping up well. It’s a huge match. We have built up this game for the past four weeks and we’re ready.”