TENBURY conceded four tries in the final 15 minutes as they were on the wrong end of a 44-8 defeat at home to Telford Hornets.

The visitors were just nine points adrift of their opponents in the Midlands Four West (North) clash at half time before Telford took advantage of the home side's tiredness in the final quarter.

Tenbury captain Will Gough was sin-binned early in the second half and it was during this time that his side went over for their only try of the game through Will Morgan.

"It was a valiant effort but it was not good enough," said Gough.

"We didn't have enough of the ball and had to defend for too long. We withstood the pressure well for the first hour but when we got tired they capitalised.

"They were very well drilled."

Gough said it was perhaps a good thing his side doesn't have a fixture this weekend, saying many of his players will have had sore bodies following Saturday's defeat.

It was the opposite story for Cleobury, however, who demolished Bromyard 65-5, running in 11 tries.

Captain Will Bache said he has never known a start to the season like this one as his side recorded their seventh league win of the campaign.

Tries from Ben Howman (3), Alex Howman (2), Dave Shorter (2), Paul Hulland, Josh Phillips, Ed Lewis and Dave Leach completed the rout, alongside five conversions.

"They did stretch us at times," said Bache.

"But we've got a young side which has confidence. There must be something in the water here. I can't argue with the start we've had."

A measure of how strongly the side has started the season was made clear when Bromyard scored the solidarity try, which was the first Cleobury had conceded all season.

"We knew it was going to happen sooner or later," said Bache, who added that the side still has a few players missing.

The win stretches Cleobury's lead at the top of the table to an impressive 13 points.

They have now scored 366 points and conceded just 20.