CAPTAIN Mat Bowen remains hopeful struggling Clee Hill can find some home comfort in Midlands Three West (North) table despite another setback at Edwardians.

Saturday’s 48-7 reverse at Streetsbrook Road was Clee Hill’s seventh defeat in eight league outings to date with their only win coming back in September.

Charlie Evans touched down the visitors’ only try with George Warrington, filling in at 10 while Allan Shields is sidelined through injury, landing a difficult conversion from the sideline.

But it was scant reward despite a plucky showing from Bowen’s boys and their task gets no easier this side of Christmas.

Home matches against fourth-placed Handsworth and table-topping Ludlow sandwich a trip to Harborne but the skipper believes any turnaround in fortunes will come on home soil.

“The score didn't really reflect the game,” said Bowen. “Edwardians took advantage of our young set of backs but to their credit, they all played well.

“George has been very impressive in stepping up to play 10 with Allan Shields injured and hopefully, we can get back to winning ways in our home games and get our heads back up.”

Elsewhere, Cleobury Mortimer kept up the pressure on Ludlow at the summit by easing to a 64-10 win at bottom club Eccleshall.

Bishop’s Castle & Onny Valley lost 10-5 at Essington in Midlands Four West (North). Church Stretton’s home match with Bloxwich was postponed.

Ludlow College prop Connor Deignan has been called up for a Midlands under-18s assessment session at Leicester Grammar School in January.

Deignan is one of five North Midlands RFU players to be given the nod after impressing in a three-match programme for the county.

The assessment takes place in January 23 with the final trial six days later. The selected team then plays a training match against Nottingham Academy on February 14.