LUDLOW go for broke in their bid to preserve their Midlands 2 West (North) status this weekend.

The Linneymen, who are also hosting their President’s Day lunch, entertain Stourbridge Lions knowing that they must match Stafford’s result at Moseley Oak if they are to avoid the drop alongside cast-adrift Tamworth.

Ludlow are currently sitting just above the relegation zone on level points with 11th placed Stafford, but having won six matches to Stafford’s five.

It’s the last-chance saloon for Norman Stalker's side and the Ludlow coach admits: “It is in our hands and we need to make sure we finish with a top performance

"We were outfought, out-committed and froze in our last game at Stafford and we need to put that behind us.

“We know a bonus point win will be enough to keep us up, but we also know that we could win and go down, and lose and stay up.

“It is going to be tough as Stourbridge Lions are a good side, but I feel we have proved we have a young team who are more than capable of surviving at this level.

“We have had some excellent results, beating Shrewsbury home and away and convincingly defeating Moseley Oak at home, and the team has plenty of potential. We are a far better side for this season and though it wouldn’t be a disaster to go down, it would a massive disappointment.”

Stalker was saddled with a major rebuilding job to develop the club’s player base when he joined Ludlow last summer.

A cluster of senior players had departed and he put together a vibrant young side full of promise, but who now need one last push to end their season on a high.

Ludlow will be without centre Mike Jones against Stourbridge and teenage winger Tom Evans is also likely to be missing after a recent dead leg.

It is a big weekend too for Cleobury Mortimer, who round off a season to savour when they host Rugeley at Love Lane as the undisputed kings of Midland 4 West (North).

They made it 18 wins out of 19 games when they secured a 17-0 victory in a local derby at Bishop’s Castle & Onny Valley last Saturday.

The Easter win also doubled up as a North Midlands Vase quarter-final and it means Cleobury now host a semi-final with King’s Norton on Saturday, April 18. Evesham await the winners in the final at Dudley on May 10.

Alex Howman and Ben Lewis both went over for tries at Bishop’s Castle, with the prolific boot of Allan Shields accounting for the other points.

Promoted Church Stretton will claim the Midlands 5 West (North) title if they beat Stourport in their final fixture, while going in the opposite direction Tenbury, already doomed to the drop from Midlands 4 West (North), need to better Greyhound’s result when they make the short trip to Bromyard if they are to avoid finishing rock bottom of the table. Greyhound finish at home to Market Drayton.