LUDLOW strengthened their grip on the Midlands Three West (North) title race by winning 41-18 at nearest challengers and previously unbeaten Handsworth.

The league leaders had Will Sparrow to thank for a first-half try and several kicked points with Jack Lines also crossing the whitewash.

Handsworth kept things close with a half-time score of 20-18 and had their chances after the interval with the match still very much in the balance.

But another effort from Sparrow followed by more kicked points and a further try from winger Sam Thomas ultimately decided matters as Ludlow showed their hosts how to take advantage of dominant spells.

The success gave Ludlow a five-point lead at the summit.

Elsewhere, Clee Hill were left frustrated having had two tries disallowed in a single-point defeat at home to Cannock.

The home side drew first blood through Billy Hall inside the first 15 minutes with Allan Shields adding the conversion.

But Cannock hit back with a penalty midway through the first half and ran in two tries, one of which was converted, to seize the initiative.

Charlie Evans made the match close and captain Matt Bowen and George Newman were each denied by refereeing decisions as Clee Hill searched in vain for a second win of the season.

Cleobury Mortimer inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Burntwood, winning 43-10 to move up to third in the standings.

Bishop’s Castle & Onny Valley secured their first Midlands Four West (North) victory of the campaign by seeing off Barton-under-Needwood 25-5.

They leapfrogged second-bottom Church Stretton who suffered a 39-12 home defeat to Wednesbury.

In Midlands Five West (North), Tenbury blew an early 10-point lead in a 40-23 defeat at home to Greyhound.

Captain Ed Gough pounced on an error to score a first-minute try with Claude Celton kicking the conversion and then a penalty to make it 10-0.

But Celton’s second kick was sandwiched by two converted efforts by the away side and while Greg Powell and Callum Spires crossed the line in the second half, Greyhound’s flurry of tries saw them win comfortably.

The region’s sides turn their attentions to cup action on Saturday with Clee Hill travelling to Droitwich, league leaders in an equivalent division, and Ludlow hosting another Midlands Three West (South) outfit Woodrush in round two of the Midlands Senior Vase.

In the second round of the Midlands Junior Vase, Tenbury hope to cause an upset at higher-ranked Bloxwich.