COACH Norman Stalker fired a menacing warning to Ludlow’s title rivals after another free-scoring display: “There is a lot more to come.”

Stalker’s men continued their early-season surge with a fifth straight bonus-point win in Midlands Three West (North) on Saturday, a 78-5 pummelling of Harborne.

It took 20 minutes to wear down the visitors but Jack Lines (2), Will Sparrow and Mark Williams opened the floodgates to secure a league point by half-time.

Sparrow, Russell Jones, centre Lawrence Hughes, Sam Wilkes, Ed Ballard and another for Williams completed the rout to move the Linney boys six points clear at the summit but the bullish Stalker is hard to please.

“It is going very well but as strange as it sounds, we are not 100 per cent happy with how we are playing,” he said. “We know there is a lot more to come from us.

“The main thing is we are taking our opportunities, our finishing is very good. I can’t remember us missing many chances and that is what is setting us apart at the moment but it is very early days.

“We are also defending very well. Last season, we were not happy with that side of our game and it probably cost us promotion.”

And Stalker expects a three-horse race in the battle for supremacy after last season’s third-placed finish.

“Burntwood and Cleobury are up there with us and I expect the three of us to break clear by Christmas,” he added.

“We just have to try to stay that one step ahead to make life easier. If we can beat Cannock and Burntwood in the next few weeks, that should put us in a strong position at Christmas.

“We finished third last season but felt we were the second-best team in the league. Tamworth were worthy winners but we faded in a couple of games which cost us.

“We wanted to finish top this time and it has gone very well so far. We are averaging 50 points per game which is way beyond what we expected but as long as we keep working hard, I think we will be okay.

“The hardest part is to control the euphoria from outside the group and make sure everyone keeps their feet on the floor.

“Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice problem to have and certainly far better than when I first joined the club. We have come along way and the next thing for us is to be ready to compete when we go up and I think we are getting pretty close to that.”

Stalker anticipates naming an unchanged side for Saturday’s home clash with Willenhall (3pm).