Ledbury 20 pts Birmingham Exiles 15

LEDBURY gave a below-par performance against their lowly Midlands 3 West (South) visitors but shook off the lethargy to come from behind and claim the victory which consolidated their fourth position in the table.

The referee had his work cut out to maintain discipline in a scrappy opening quarter and the visitors rocked Ledbury by jumping into a 10-point lead with a penalty and a converted try.

They took advantage of slipshod home defending to extend their lead with a second unconverted try before Ledbury reduced the deficit before the break when Ryan Milne notched his first-ever try for the first team.

Coach Rob Collins read the riot act to his team during the interval and there was much more purpose and discipline to Ledbury's play on the restart. They capitalised on a depleted opposition pack when Exiles had a forward sin-binned and used good lineout ball to create a second try. Simon Wragg's accurate throw secured possession and a powerful rolling maul saw flanker Isiah Young driven over for his sixth league try of the season.

Ledbury kept up the pressure and a series of strong forward drives brought a third score when the referee awarded a penalty try, adjudging that the visitors had deliberately collapsed a rolling maul. Barrett Price added the simple conversion to edge Ledbury into the lead.

Further indiscipline by Exiles was punished when Price landed a penalty to complete the scoring.

The majority of the first team now have a break before playing Malvern in the North Midlands Cup at Spring Lane on February 22.