TENBURY captain Will Gough said last Saturday’s friendly against Ludlow was a good chance for some players who have not started lately to stake their claim for a place.

Ludlow came out on top, winning 17-7, but Gough was more pleased about the performance rather than the result.

“It was really wet and cold, so that ruined any chance of any free-flowing rugby, but it was a good game,” said Gough.

“It was played in a good spirit by both teams.

“A couple of players were out for us through injury and playing elsewhere, so we had a lot of players who had not played for a while.

“It was a really scrappy affair but everyone enjoyed it."

Tenbury have another friendly this Saturday away to Clee Hill before resuming their Midlands 4 West (North) campaign away to leaders Cleobury Mortimer.

However, it is back-to-back games that follow against Greyhound and Market Drayton that Tenbury are targeting.

Greyhound are just one point and one place above Tenbury in the league table, while Market Drayton are six points clear in the battle to stay in the division.

“Cleobury will be a big challenge but it will be an experience for our young players,” said Gough.

“But we are targeting the Greyhound and Market Drayton games because we need to get some wins to stay up. We will see who is available for the Clee Hill game before targeting the league again.”

Spokesman Phil Norton said Ludlow could add to the squad in time for their next game against Veseyans on January 10.

"We have got Bridgnorth and Old Saltleians away, who are first and second, to come, but apart from that, we have got teams coming to Ludlow," said Norton.

"We still have hope."

Cleobury are in cup action this Saturday when they travel to Derbyshire to face Belper in the quarter-finals of the Midlands Junior Vase.

The Midlands 4 West (North) pacesetters are unbeaten this season, but will face a tough challenge at Belper, who are second in Midlands 4 East (North).