Ledbury hammer Coventry Welsh to boost Midlands Four West South title hopes (From Hereford Times)

Ledbury hammer Coventry Welsh to boost Midlands Four West South title hopes

4:00pm Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Rugby

Coventry Welsh 8 pts Ledbury 37.

LEDBURY notched their 17th Midlands Four West South win in 20 matches but it may not be enough to win them the league title.

After beating Coventry Welsh by six tries to one, Ledbury are eight points clear at the top of the table but could still be overhauled by Old Wheatleyans who have two games to play.

After securing promotion the previous week, Ledbury were able to play with freedom and confidence throughout.

They took the lead with a third-minute penalty from centre Ben Smith, with scrum-half and coach Paul Rudland diving over shortly afterwards after good work from the forwards.

Ledbury’s well-organised pack helped skipper Jock Welch crash over for his 14th try of the campaign after 21 minutes.

And he added another eight minutes later following a catch-and-drive from a line-out.

Tom Dines touched down just before the break to register another Ledbury bonus point, Smith converting.

Coventry scored a penalty after 42 minutes, but Ledbury stretched their lead 10 minutes later when Dines burst through a number of attempted tackles to score his second try of the day.

The home team scored a consolation try 10 minutes before the end but Ledbury had the final say.

After a remarkable dummy from prop Joe Hill, Ledbury moved the ball wide to enable winger Jamie Rayfield to score his 13th league try of the season. Second-row Matt Cleland converted from the right-hand touchline.

Tonight (Thursday), Ledbury meet Edwardians in a North Midlands Vase quarter-final in Solihull.