Ledbury Seconds travelled away to Ludlow and with the ongoing problem of player availability, a 15-man squad made the trip.

LUDLOW II 25pts, LEDBURY II 12pts

Ledbury started with the wind in their faces and Ludlow adopted their style of play to optimise on the conditions. Short crash ball was used to slowly push Ledbury back, followed by chips overhead that were extremely awkward to catch cleanly in the swirling wind.

This meant that for much of the first 15 minutes play was made in the Ledbury half. Suddenly it seemed that Ledbury would open the scoring with a break from George Holbrook who received a close ball from the back of a ruck, side stepped the fly-half, made an opening and a dash to the line, only to be stopped tantalisingly close to the try line by an exceptional covering tackle from the full-back.

Play was pulled back again into the Ledbury half. Trickster Ali Smith at scrum-half used cunning dummies, sneaking runs, chips and kicks to make distance up the park, but with the wind against him it was tough work and Ludlow stayed in Ledbury's half.

Towards the end of the first half two incidents happened that effected the game. Firstly, the referee left for another game, which meant that an eligible bystander was found in the club house and was drafted to referee the game. And secondly flanker Russ Putland was taken off with a knee injury.

With Ledbury stretched, Ludlow ran around the edge and scored in the corner just before half time.

The strong Ludlow pack, now outweighing Ledbury, dominated the start of the second half and so the wind advantage that Ledbury wanted for the second half could not be seized. John Barrell was winning balls in the scrums as hooker taking three against the head. Jumper Oli Dennis was also winning line outs. However the platforms were lost as Ledbury were jostled backwards due to their one man disadvantage.

Ledbury kept their patience and following a deep kick from fly half Chris Stokes, stayed in the Ludlow territory long enough to press back Ludlow and to make an opening for winger David Latch to score in the corner. Ludlow returned with a penalty kick.

Ledbury stepped up and another long kick by Stokes and the culmination of effort by centres Chris Thomas and James Whitecroft saw Whitecroft touch the ball down under the posts. The try was converted and the score read Ledbury 12pts, Ludlow 15pts.

The winds dropped and maybe Ledbury's concentration. Ledbury soon found themselves down two more tries. One of which was scored punishingly in the dying minute of the game.