LUDLOW RFC warmed up for this Saturday’s testing trip to Dudley-Kingswinford with a thrilling 39-31 five-try bonus-point win over Droitwich that was not without its hairy moments.

Leading 17-3 at half-time, Ludlow looked well in control despite having several players out through injury.

Tries had come through back row Ben Black and full-back Joe Doyle, plus two conversions and a penalty from Will Sparrow.

But Droitwich came back out of the blocks firing on all cylinders, pressing Ludlow back into their own half, and were rewarded with two converted tries in a five-minute burst to put them on level terms.

The hosts responded superbly with a true team try, the ball going through every Ludlow player’s hands as it traversed the pitch twice before Charlie Doyle dotted down.

Droitwich hit back immediately with a try of their own but Sparrow put Ludlow back in front at 25-24 with a penalty from almost the halfway line.

Ludlow pulled away as fly-half Keiron Pinches fed a lovely inside pass to Sparrow to score under the posts and Jim Alderson pounced on a Droitwich fumble from Will Norton’s kick forward to dot down.

Droitwich claimed a losing bonus-point with a try right on the whistle but victory moved Ludlow up to sixth ahead of this weekend’s visit to third-placed DK.

There was confusion at the end of the second XV game with Droitwich as the hosts – and the visitors – both thought Ludlow had won but the referee’s notebook scored it a 25-24 away win.

Ludlow’s total tallied with the official’s as George Vivyan (2), James Ruell, Rhys Evans and Tom Perkins crossed, with the latter adding two conversions, but Droitwich’s score seemed erroneous.

Elsewhere, Harry Parker bagged a hat-trick as Cleobury Mortimer ran in eight tries to continue their excellent start to the Midlands Three West North season with a 44-21 home win over Handsworth.

Alex Brazier, Josh Winfield, Ben Howman, David Leach and Will Watts also crossed for Cleobury, while Brazier and Sam Faulkner added a conversion apiece.

Charlie Evans produced a captain’s display for Clee Hill, notching a hat-trick in their 31-7 Midlands Four West North victory at Trentham.

Guy Hampton also crossed, while Hayden Edwards converted all four tries plus a penalty.

Evans said: “It was a tough first half as we were a few players short but our defence probably won us the game against what was a very physical team.”

Clee Hill have been drawn away at Northampton Men’s Own in the Midlands Junior Vase quarter-finals while Tenbury are at home to Barton-under-Needwood.

Tenbury had a walkover win in Midlands Four West South last weekend with visitors Dunlop unable to raise a team, while Bishops Castle & Onny Valley beat Bloxwich 27-12 in Midlands Five.