LUDLOW RFC slipped to an agonising 21-19 loss in Wolverhampton on Saturday, to surrender joint leadership of Division Two of the Midlands West (North) leagues.

Although they were able to bank a losing bonus point due to the narrow margin of defeat, that will come as small consolation with Tamworth going four points clear at the top, courtesy of a 23-0 win at Walsall.

And the cup calendar means Ludlow will be unable to get the loss out of their system straight away as they are left without a competitive fixture at the weekend.

There was disappointment for Cleobury in Division Three, who will have to sit out a fixture-free weekend having lost 34-8 at Solihull-based Edwardians in their last outing.

Clee Hill kept up their pursuit of Division Four leaders Willenhall and Rugeley at the weekend with a 43-26, bonus-point victory at Barton-under-Needwood.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the visitors, as second row Matt Bowen explained.

“We started off pretty well and managed to get three tries ahead,” said the former skipper, “then, I’m not sure if we got too confident because they came back to 19-19 at half time.

“We had a bit of a shake-up at half time to wake ourselves back up and we got back on it in the second half and started playing some good rugby again.”

Victory keeps Clee nine points adrift of the joint leaders but Willenhall can stretch their advantage at third-placed Linley on Saturday whilst Clee Hill are on cup duty.

Fourth-placed Clee step into the unknown with an RFU Junior Vase assignment at South section counterparts Burbage. The Leicestershire side warmed up for the cup tie with a 43-0 demolition of struggling Coventrians to stay joint top of their division.

Division Five sides Bishops Castle & Onny Valley and struggling Church Stretton are without fixtures at the weekend.