LUDLOW RFC put neighbours Clee Hill to the sword on Saturday, taking the honours 48-21 in Midlands Three West (North).

But they will be hoping their south Shropshire rivals hold no grudges and do them a favour this weekend when they round off their season at Newcastle.

Ludlow’s win edged them to within four points of the Staffordshire side who currently sit in the runners-up spot behind Tamworth.

And if Clee Hill cause an upset this weekend, Ludlow can snatch second place – as long as they beat Cleobury Mortimer.

“We could do with them doing us a favour,” Ludlow spokesman Phil Norton admitted. “Clee Hill are a decent side and will certainly give Newcastle a good game.”

Two early first-half tries put the home side in control before four more after the break wrapped up the win even though Ludlow were reduced to 12 players at one point.

Will Sparrow claimed the first 11 points of the games thanks to two penalties and a try.

Back row Russell Jones then dotted down from close range and Sparrow’s conversion and another penalty eased the home side into a 21-point lead before Clee responded with a converted try on the stroke of half-time, scrum-half Charlie Evans crossing the whitewash and Allan Shields converting.

The score came at the perfect time for the visitors but any hopes they may have had of building on that try were dashed as Ludlow bagged two of their own early in the second period.

Russell Jones was first to cross, a brilliant solo effort from inside his own half, before centre Mike Jones added the bonus try, the latter converted by Sparrow.

That should have ensured a straightforward win for Ludlow but yellow cards for both props led to uncontested scrums and the loss of a third player prompting a period of pressure from the visitors.

Clee finally claimed two more tries; a penalty try and one from inside centre Daniel Romeo, both of which were converted by Steve Adams with Shields off the field with a hip injury.

But it was the home side who had the final say. Sparrow steadied the ship with another penalty and then crossed for his second try of the game which he converted. Winger Sam Thomas completed the scoring late on with a well-worked try.

Visiting skipper Matt Bowen said: “It was a good game of rugby and we’ll be looking to put in another decent display at Newcastle.

“We had a couple of players missing but there was an excellent debut from youngster Ryan Carter on the wing who has been playing in our 2nds.”