HAT-TRICK hero Jim Alderson was the inspiration at both ends of the pitch as Ludlow moved to within a bonus-point win of promotion from Midlands Three West (North).

A 66-17 win at Cannock gave the Linneymen a six-point advantage over third-placed Burntwood with two matches to play going into Saturday’s home derby with Clee Hill.

Full-back Keiran Pinches got Ludlow off the mark with Will Sparrow adding the conversion and that was quickly followed by a brace from fly-half Mark Williams. Sparrow again added the extras.

Alderson began his crusade by running three-quarters the length of the pitch to score under the posts and then fielded the ball from kick-off before brushing aside two Cannock challenges to dive over once more.

Having landed two more kicks, Sparrow was among the tries when he rounded off a delightful pass from scrum-half Jamie Simpson and then added his own quick-fire second.

Cannock scored to make it 45-5 but Ludlow came straight back with a lovely break by Williams from his own 25, racing to the halfway line and throwing a beautiful long pass to put Sparrow away.

To their credit, Cannock took the next two scores before tries from Matt Davies and Alderson put the matter beyond doubt.

Meanwhile, Ludlow's weekend opponents know their fate after a 55-19 defeat at home to Harborne.

Willenhall’s 37-23 win over Uttoxeter coupled with that crash left Clee Hill unable to escape the bottom two despite a manful attempt to avoid relegation during the second half of the season.

Should Ludlow fail to gain all five points, they would be left sweating on the outcome of their trip to promotion and title rivals Cleobury Mortimer on the last day.

Second-placed Cleobury lead Burntwood by a single point in the race for the top two but would probably trail on points difference should they finish neck and neck.

In Midlands Four West (North), the pendulum swung back in Bishop’s Castle & Onny Valley’s favour at the foot of the table courtesy of a 35-28 win over promotion-hopefuls Rugeley.

Church Stretton returned to the bottom two despite being tied on points with Castle. Their match against Essington was postponed and has been rearranged for Saturday, April 15.

Tenbury enter Saturday’s final Midlands Five West (North) round of fixtures knowing any kind of win will seal promotion.

Ed Gough’s men sit third, level on points with top two Greyhound and Market Drayton who play each other. The twist to the plot is that Tenbury travel to fourth-placed Aldridge who, with a four-point deficit on the three teams above them, could still gatecrash the party.