LUDLOW picked up two losing bonus points on their travels as they fell 45-38 in a pre-Christmas cracker at second-placed Lichfield, the highest-scoring team in Midlands One West.

Lichfield scored their first try within ten minutes but Ludlow immediately levelled the scores as Rhys Perkins jinked over after Dylan Humphreys had been hauled down just short of the line.

Will Sparrow converted but Lichfield scored twice to go 17-7 ahead, only for Will Hodnett, breaking the line, to find Joe Doyle with a clever offload to score and Sparrow again kicked the extras.

With number eight Charlie Doyle carded for offside and back row James Mear also carded two minutes later, Ludlow did well to hold that 17-14 scoreline until half-time.

The missing men gave Lichfield plenty of room to work with in the second half and their backs wreaked havoc, quickly running their score to 45 points.

But it wasn't all one way as Ben Black, who had a superb game for Ludlow, soared high to meet Hodnett's kick-off and slick passing gave Sparrow a try in the corner.

Sparrow and Joe Doyle broke out of their own 22 for the former to score again before Matt Davies and Kieron Pinches fed Hodnett to race under the posts for Ludlow’s fourth bonus-point try.

And Ludlow – who host Worcester at The Linney this Saturday – secured a second bonus point, for losing by seven points or fewer, with a fine team try at the death.

The forwards trundled towards the line with Lichfield back-pedalling furiously, then Perkins fired quick ball across the backs and Sparrow scored again in the corner before adding the conversion.