ASSISTANT coach Gavin Duggan declared himself content with Ludlow’s 21-5 derby victory at struggling Clee Hill despite dropping a bonus point.

The Midlands Three West (North) leaders endured a tough time and led only by a single point at half-time courtesy of a pair of Jamie Simpson penalties.

A third successful kick from Simpson helped to kick start their second-half performance with Sam Thomas and Will Sparrow eventually crossing the whitewash as Ludlow battled through in the end.

“Clee Hill were up for it and we didn’t play to our game plan in the first half,” said Duggan. “We made hard work of it.

“They were bigger and stronger in the pack than us and we got caught trying to arm-wrestle with them. That was not the game plan and it didn’t work.

“We saw an awful lot of the ball in the first 15 minutes but didn’t look like scoring. They nullified us with power and were good in the scrum which meant we had to change and bring on more weight in the second row.

“At half-time we told them to get into the corners, make them kick it back to us and try to get them to run at us.

“Our backline found holes and the game was played at a greater speed in the second half. That suited us and the points came.

“We were much better and while it wasn’t a bonus-point win, sometimes you have to take a victory in a derby match and move on.

“Our performance was not particularly good but we improved as we went along and got what we needed in the end.”

Title rivals Burntwood and Cleobury Mortimer both edged closer to Ludlow with bonus-point wins but Duggan was not too concerned by the dent to his side’s lead.

“We would have preferred the five, of course, but we have reached Christmas on top of the pile,” he added.

“Burntwood have to come to us and while we have to go to Cleobury on the last day, Burntwood still have to go to Handsworth.

“It is not easy to get five points there so we feel quite positive and able to kick on.”

And Duggan also had a message of hope for back-markers Clee Hill, backing them to avoid the trapdoor.

“They have a very strong pack and were much better than their league position suggested,” he said.

“They have seven home games left so I expect them to kick on and stay up. Their position is not a true reflection of how their team plays.”