CLEOBURY Mortimer RFC manager Aggy Desogus is not ruling out his side going up this season – but is happy to be patient over a promotion push.

Mortimer went fourth in Midlands Three West North with a 25-15 win at Eccleshall as Sam Bills, Ferg Anderson, Tom Leach and David Leach scored.

Alex Sparks hit a conversion and penalty.

That was their third straight win, leaving them ten points off the top two, and Desogus said: “We seem to be becoming consistent and to get a bonus point away was extra good.

“The top two, Uttoxeter and Old Salts, still have to come to us. It depends how those results go. They are both far away – if, like a lot of teams, some players don’t want to travel, we have a chance.

“But this season we are concentrating on finishing in the top half, then as our young players get older and more experienced, we can push on for promotion.”

Ludlow lost 30-19 at Stoke in Midlands One West but a late Jamie Simpson try gave the Second XV a 38-36 victory at Bridgnorth thirds. Tom Amphlett and Rhys Evans were also among the tries.

Elsewhere, a 24-12 home win over promotion rivals Market Drayton put Clee Hill top of Midlands Four West North after weeks spent sitting in second place.

Clee Hill, who visit third-placed Rugeley this weekend, pounced on previous leaders Aldridge’s slip-up in losing at Aston Old Edwardians to move four points clear at the summit with a game in hand.

Skipper Charlie Evans said: “We still have some big games to come and going away to Rugeley this weekend will be one of the toughest so we are a long way off [promotion] yet.

“But we are where we want to be now. It’s also nice to have the game in hand in the bank, so to speak, as a bit of a buffer, but hopefully it’s not something we have to rely on.”

Evans scored a hat-trick in the win over Market Drayton, including a crucial early interception try to set Hill on their way, while Matt Bowen also crossed and Hayden Edwards kicked two conversions.

Tenbury climbed to sixth in Midlands Four West South with a 16-5 win at Claverdon as Ben James scored their try, while Zac Thompson kicked a conversion and three penalties.

They host second-placed Coventrians this Saturday and director of rugby Andy Black said: “We lost to Coventrians at the beginning of the season but we have moved on an awful lot since then.

“They are a big team but Palmers Meadow is a big place to play and if we can utilise the space as we always try to do with our flowing rugby maybe we can get the better of them.”