CLEOBURY Mortimer skipper Will Bache watched from the sidelines as his team picked up just their third win of the season with a 14-7 victory over fellow Midlands Two West (North) strugglers Old Saltleians.

But it was a nerve jangling afternoon for the captain and those shivering in the snow with the winning score not coming until the final minute.

“We made hard work of it but it was just what the boys needed,” Bache said. “They showed great character. We had a few chances to win it but to do it so late in the game certainly made it exciting.”

Blustery conditions and snow hampered Cleobury in the first half as they played into nothing short of a blizzard at times and Bache was happy his side conceded just a solitary converted try.

“It was 7-0 to them at the interval and we were quite pleased with that because the strength of the wind should have been worth more than those seven points,” he said.

“In the second half we settled down, went through the phases and started to believe in ourselves.”

It took until midway through the half before the home side were back on level term. A period of pressure had Old Salts pinned on their own line before the ball was worked to Jack Samways who spun out of the tackle before dotting down with Hayden Edwards kicking the extras.

A couple of missed penalties then let the visitors off the hook and the Cleobury defence had to stand firm to stop the Birmingham side from regaining the lead.

But with just seconds to go a quickly tapped penalty saw Josh Phillips go over for the winning try which was converted by youngster Elliot Murphy. The victory ended a ten-match losing run.

Mid-table Tamworth are the visitors to Love Lane on Saturday and Bache is hoping the defeat of Old Salts will give the players a confidence boost going into that match.

“We always start positively but heads have dropped when we’ve conceded a first try,” he explained. “They showed some great character on Saturday so hopefully that is something we can build on.”

Ludlow were also in action in Midlands Two West (North) and their 16-6 win at Kidderminster hoisted them into the top five.

And according to head coach Mikey Jones the winning margin could have been far greater with one try ruled out the pack not getting the decision as a series of scrums were driven over the line.

Two Will Sparrow penalties gave the visitors a 6-3 half-time lead with the only try of the game coming early in the second period when Rhys Perkins finished off a good team move. Sparrow added the extras and another penalty to finish with 11 points.

Ludlow head to unbeaten league leaders Whitchurch on Saturday while in Midlands Four West (North) Clee Hill are at home to Essington. Bishops Castle head to St Leonards in Midlands Five West (North).