LEDBURY RFC are now firmly in the promotion hot-seat following a comprehensive 31-17 win at Shipston-on-Stour in Midlands 3 West (South).
The Ross Road side have now opened up a 10-point advantage over their promotion rivals with 10 games left.
George Bennion kicked over 16 of the points, while Matt Hallett scored a hat-trick of tries.
A strong Shipston side started positively, but ill-discipline soon saw them conceded two penalties, which Bennion landed.
Up the hill against the elements, Ledbury were in a great position, but a well-worked try allowed the Shipston centre to cross over in the corner to reduce the deficit to one point.
A powerful effort in the scrum, largely down to Matt Davies, Arron Almond and Kieron Jones in the front row, gave Ledbury a strong base to play from.
Continued pressure allowed Dave Bromage to set up Hallet's first try, converted by Bennion.
Shipston looked to respond, but when a pass went astray, Hallett capitalised to run 90 metres to extend Ledbury's lead to 18-5.
Before the interval, the home team converted a try before Bennion kicked over a penalty to take Ledbury into the break 21-12 ahead.
That lead was extended five minutes into the second half when man-of-the-match Bennion offloaded the ball to Hallett to extend his hat-trick.
Bennion added the extras.
Shipston responded with a try, but Ledbury had the last word with a Bennion penalty.
Ledbury are next in action next Friday (January 20) when they host Upton-on-Severn.
Bromyard, meanwhile, are now second in Midlands 4 West (South) following a 28-10 loss to Alcester.
Bromyard took the lead with a Toby Rivers penalty and Ollie Barrett try, but Alcester struck back with two unconverted tries to see the sides go into half-time level.
The home side continued to dominate and added two further tries for a bonus point win.
Bromyard host Market Drayton this Saturday in the quarter-finals of the North Midlands Vase.
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