Top kicking show seals vital win

A fine display of cool kicking in difficult conditions from fly-half Mattie Morris helped Shrewsbury to an important win over close rivals Wolverhampton in Midlands 3 West (North).

A fine display of cool kicking in difficult conditions from fly-half Mattie Morris helped Shrewsbury to an important win over close rivals Wolverhampton in Midlands 3 West (North).The Sundorne Castle men came from behind to win by a single point, coming out 22-21 winners in a game that had been drifting away from them until midway through the second half.

It had not started so well for fly-half Morris, who missed a penalty in a turbulent wind and then failed to convert Will Mottram's try as the visitors went in at the break 9-5 to the good.

That was extended with a first Wolverhampton try of the afternoon soon after the restart, and Shrewsbury then looked to be in some trouble.

But a Jack Adams try was superbly converted by Morris from out on the touchline to bring them back into it.

They then led when Adams went over in the corner again and Morris repeated the trick with another super conversion.

A further Morris penalty then gave them the benefit of leading by more than a single score.

And that proved vital as a lack of concentration allowed Wolverhampton to score under the posts for another seven points and set up a tense finish.

Ludlow had struggled in games with Old Saltleians in the past, but put an end to any hoodoo hanging over them with a fine 21-6 victory that keeps them just two points off the pacesetters at the top of the table.

Gareth Edwards was the star with a hat-trick of tries, while Mark Williams kicked two penalties in the key win for the south Shropshire side.

"We hadn't beaten Old Salts for quite a few years, so it was something that was on the back of our minds even though we knew it was a game we should win," said skipper Matt Young.

"They were quite a young side, but they were by no means terrible and I think they will stop up in the division so we were pleased to get the win.

"We were looking for 10 to 12 points by Christmas and we're really pleased to be there already.

"We're growing in confidence now but we don't want to get carried away. We know we have more home games in the second half of the season but we'll just keep taking it one game at a time."

Hereford thrashed Leamington 38-3 to keep on the tails of Old Laurentians at the top of Midlands three west.

The Wysiders have now scored 306 points but are still two points a drift of Laurentians who won a close fought contest against third place Silhillians 18-11.

Colin Osborne leads Hereford's point scoring with 54 with Jeremy Grisman on 35 points.

Down the bottom of the table Ledbury lost out in a tight fought battle against Edwardians who won 33-31.

Picture: Mark Rutter, right, bids to stop Simon Evitts on the charge