LUDLOW RFC coach Norman Stalker said he could see improvement in his side’s fitness despite going down 35-13 to Camp Hill in Midlands 2 West (North).

“We’ve worked hard on our fitness and our recent performances have improved” said Stalker.

“We’ve gone from a team that can compete for 35 to 40 minutes into a team that can compete for 65 to 70.

“When you are taking hits from big players for the whole game it hurts, we have to get stronger.”

Ludlow only had a Will Norton penalty to show for their efforts in the first half as Camp Hill went into the break 16-3 up.

But the Linneymen grew stronger in the second half and grabbed a try from Mark Williams which Norton converted.

With ten minutes to go, Ludlow were trailing by just three points and Stalker felt his side might still have gone on to win.

“At 16-13 I felt we might have had enough to go on and win the game, sadly it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“They hit us on the break and scored a try to kill the game.”

In Midlands 3 West (North) Clee Hill suffered a narrow 17-14 defeat to Bloxwich in a match that was played at Ludlow due to a snow covered pitch at Clee Hill’s Tenbury Road ground.

Clee Hill captain Matt Bowen labelled his side as ‘disorganised’ after losing an early 7-5 lead that was handed to them by a try and conversion from Craig Breakwell.

“We never got into the game and failed to compete like we know we can,” said Bowen.

Despite leading at the break, the home side were soon pegged back when the visitors scored a try within 10 minutes of the restart.

Bloxwich scored and converted again to extend their lead to 17-7 before Charlie Evans went over the line and Breakwell converted for Clee Hill to narrow the gap.

Cleobury Mortimer once again rattled up the points as they hammered Barton-under-Needwood 49-3 in Midlands 4 West (North).

Cleobury are now a massive 18 points clear of nearest challengers Cannnock.

But Church Stretton are just two points clear at the top of Midlands 5 West (North) after they succumbed to a 26-9 defeat against Aldridge.

The game kicked off in blustery conditions and it was Stretton who opened the scoring through a Tim Downes penalty.

Alridge hit back and took the lead through a converted try.

The two sides then traded penalties, with Downes once again being successful for Stretton with two kicks, before Aldridge raced away with the game in the second half.

Downes and winger Tom Ward looked dangerous with some speedy runs, for the Samurai, but they could not find the breakthrough.

Substitute Jake Heiron made a lively appearance from the bench and flanker Chris Yapp put in an inspired performance in the front row, but it was in vain.

Aldridge also had a player sin0binned during the last 10 minutes.