THE prolific Will Sparrow was in sparkling form to plunder a hat-trick of tries as Ludlow claimed a hard-fought 38-32 triumph at Bloxwich in Midlands 3 West (North).

Sparrow, who has now passed 150 points for the season, also kicked a penalty and five conversions to finish with a bumper personal haul of 28 points.

The victory, Ludlow’s sixth in eight league games this season, was all the more satisfying as they lost front-row forwards Matt Wilkes and Andrew Jones to injury and were reduced to 14 players as a consequence.

Ludlow had the wind and slope in their favour in the first half, and opened up a 24-12 interval lead. Tries came from winger Sparrow, with two fine individual efforts, and Steph Anthony, who celebrated a debut touchdown for the team, with Sparrow’s reliable boot also landing nine points.

They stretched that advantage to 38-17 as Sparrow and Mark Williams both dotted down in the second period, and they looked to have added another only for a second try from the lively Williams to be disallowed.

Bloxwich then rallied and scored two tries and a penalty to get to within six points of Ludlow, but the Linneymen, for whom Anthony and Mike Price excelled in the pack, held on to win and stay tucked into second place in the table behind leaders Tamworth, who were convincing 38-0 winners at Willenhall.