Oswestry boost their title prospects

Success against the Greater Manchester men, their 11th win of the season, sees the Eagles remain third, five points behind leaders Manchester Medics but with a game in hand.

Newport are in the National League Three Midlands relegation mire after suffering a sixth straight defeat with a 36-15 loss at Sandbach.

Bridgnorth moved top of Midlands One West after notching up an emphatic 31-3 bonus point success at Worcester Wanderers.

Whitchurch were edged out in a low-scoring affair at home to Crewe & Nantwich. Scott Sturdy's side sit sixth in the table after slipping to a tight 7-5 defeat.

Ludlow maintained their promotion charge with a 24-12 victory at Eccleshall but second row Alex Wallace suffered a serious injury.

The visitors dominated the first half, scoring an early try through Will Sparrow which he also converted.

After 20 minutes Eccleshall were given a penalty try which brought the score level at 7-7.

Ludlow kicked well and created a lot of pressure in Eccleshall's 22 which forced a penalty which was converted by Sparrow. Rhys Evans then scored for Ludlow right on half-time to give them a 17-7 advantage at the break.#

Eccleshall scored first in the second half but proceedings were halted 22 minutes in because of a serious knee ligament injury to Wallace.

The game continued on a different pitch with Sparrow scoring a second try and Ludlow defending well to secure the victory.

Clee Hill's run of bad luck continued as they went down to a 10-0 defeat against table-topping Tamworth.

After conditions deteriorated during the second half, the referee abandoned the game after 63 minutes, when he felt the pitch had become unsafe.

The result stands because more than 60 minutes had been played.

To make matters worse, centre Conor Deignan picked up an injury for a side who have already lost Charlie Evans (broken collarbone) and Adam Yarnold (dislocated hip).

Skipper George Evans said: "We had all the play first half, but instead of taking the three points we kept going for the seven.

"We were left to rue this when Tamworth kicked a penalty to go 3-0 up at half-time. In the second-half, the conditions got really bad and Tamworth scored a try from a maul.

"The abandonment left us not managing to get anything out of a match which didn't reflect on the game itself. But it gave us a lesson in being clinical and taking the points when in control.

"Conor picked up a hamstring injury which will see him out for a few weeks."