HEAD coach Mikey Jones admits Ludlow RFC will have revenge on their minds when they bid to protect their proud unbeaten home record against Crewe & Nantwich this weekend.

The Cheshire side inflicted one of only two defeats Midlands Two West North leaders Ludlow have suffered this season with a narrow 40-38 triumph back in October.

However, Ludlow have proven a different animal at home, winning all six league games at the Linney comfortably by an aggregate score of 243-35.

Last weekend’s 38-22 win at Camp Hill stretched their advantage at the top of the table to seven points as Tamworth, who started the day second, lost 29-26 at Wolverhampton, who moved above them.

Jones said: “We haven’t lost at home this season, no-one has taken a (league) point off us there and we are conceding fewer than six points a game on average – that’s not a bad average!

“It’s going to be a hard game against Crewe & Nantwich as they are one of the league’s in-form sides and we lost to them up there when we had a first half to forget.

“But we still scored 38 points in the second half that day which shows how good our attack is and the boys will have the bit in their teeth to put that one right.”

Camp Hill dominated possession for the opening 15 minutes last Saturday but all they had to show for it were a couple of penalties and a slender 6-0 lead.

Two tries from Joe Doyle and a Joe Amphlett score soon had Ludlow in command although Camp Hill did notch a penalty shortly before half-time to cut their deficit to 19-9.

However, once Jack Small scored from a driving line-out early in the second half, Ludlow never looked back.

Doyle completed his hat-trick and Charlie Doyle put the icing on the cake with a late try, although a couple of tries and a penalty for the hosts ensured the score always stayed respectable.

Jones was delighted with a win that Ludlow had to battle for, as his team showed a different side of their game to the free-flowing rugby they have become renowned for.

He said: “Saturday was a very, very good test for us as we knew Camp Hill is a hard place to go, it always has been over the years.

“We went toe-to-toe with them and took what they had to give us for 15 minutes but we didn’t let them get away and we knew that we had the quality to score tries.

“It showed a really good maturity from my young side. It’s been nice to see them mature over the last couple of months – if they do go behind, they don’t panic because they know we will make chances and take them."