LUDLOW are showing signs of promise despite suffering a setback on the road at Wolverhampton.

The Shropshire side went down 46-8 in Midlands Two West (North) in a game where the conditions were against them.

After conceding a try inside the first 10 minutes, full-back Jonny Pudge went over for a try before Liam O'Neill kicked a penalty.

But as well as the opposition, Ludlow also had to contend with a strong wind which disappeared during the half-time break, at which point the home side were leading 23-8.

A competitive start to the second half was undone, however, when Wolverhampton scored three tries in the last 10 minutes of the match to round off victory.

"The tries at the end made the scoreline not really reflect the match," said club spokesman Phil Norton.

He said the side has no game this weekend but faces a huge December when they take on both Stafford and Tamworth, the two teams currently below them in the table.

Meanwhile, fly-half Tim Downes helped himself to 38 points as Church Stretton romped to a 73-5 win at Birmingham Barbarians.

The comprehensive win maintains the Shropshire side's 100 per cent record in Midlands Five West (North).

Centre Jake Heiron also chipped in with a hat-trick as Stretton secured their fifth bonus point win out of five to remain top of the table.

Heiron scored his side's first try in the opening minute before second-row George Bagley grabbed his fifth try of the season, with Downes converting.

Stretton attacked straight from the restart, and hooker Tom Chard soon added a third try for the visitors, as he drove over, with Downes again converting before securing the four-try bonus point after just 20 minutes.

Heiron, Higgins and Downes added to the score before winger Sam Kinsey claimed his first score for the club with Downes converting. Heiron completed his hat-trick before Downes finished the game with two more converted tries of his own.