LUDLOW head coach Mikey Jones said his side fear no-one but themselves in Midlands One West – as he called on them to stop the spells of self-destruction that are marring an otherwise solid start.

Jones’ side lost 38-17 at high-flying Dudley-Kingswinford on Saturday, their heaviest defeat since their return to Midlands One rugby, having trailed by just two points at half-time.

And while the defeat owed much to an ever-growing injury list – Joe Doyle and Harry Small the latest casualties – Ludlow again paid the price for a lax 20-minute spell in which they conceded three tries.

“It’s becoming a pattern in every game,” Jones groaned. “We don’t fear any side in this league but we do fear ourselves.

“Other sides are always going to have good spells against you but we need to stop that turning into points. We don’t mind them having the ball but we can’t keep conceding.

“We knew it was going to be hard going there but the first half was among our best performances of the season, the way we played.

“I thought we were in control of the game but then we had to reshuffle because of the injuries which unsettled the side a bit and allowed them to get into their gameplan.

“We made them make a lot of mistakes in the first half but in the second half they didn’t make any mistakes which ultimately meant our defence was worked a lot more.

“The better side won on the day – that’s why they are up there and that’s why we are mid-table.”

Ludlow made DK work hard in the first 40 minutes, accurate kicking and good line speed pinning the hosts mostly in their own half and starving them of scoring opportunities.

DK did go ahead with a converted try but Ludlow replied as fly-half Kieron Pinches took a loop ball and passed inside to Doyle on a straight run to the line, with Will Sparrow converting.

The hosts regained the lead with an unconverted try but a Sparrow penalty meant Ludlow were only 12-10 down at the interval.

However, the injuries to Doyle and Small meant Ludlow lost their fluency and three DK tries quickly stretched the score to 33-10.

They added another right on the whistle after prop Chris Conliffe’s close-range consolation scored for Ludlow had been converted by Sparrow.

Ludlow now have a weekend off before the November 9 derby at home to Hereford – with Jones and his side set to cheer on England in the World Cup Final in the clubhouse this Saturday.

He added: “I think England will win easily, by 20 points maybe – they are too strong all over for South Africa."