Ludlow are homing in on title success
Ludlow aim to make home advantage count once again tomorrow when they attempt to clinch promotion and the Midlands 2 West (North) title, writes Nick Elwell.
Victory against relegation-threatened Stafford will seal them crowned champions with two games remaining.
And the Linney men will attack the game in confident mood on the back of a formidable home record that has brought nine wins from nine outings. Three of those victories have also seen the opposition shut out.
Coach Mikey Jones is keen to get the job done ahead of next week’s trip to second-placed Tamworth and has selected his strongest side possible.
“We had quite a few first-team regulars missing against Spartans last weekend and we had a discussion in selection with regard to whether we were going to bring them all straight back in,” said Jones.
“We will go with our strongest side. We want to get promotion sealed and the title won as quickly as possible.
“It’s good that we are at home tomorrow as well. We are a different side at home. No one has coped with us on our home ground and we haven’t given anyone a point here all season.”
Jones is delighted with how things have come together this season and the brand of rugby his side have played.
“We haven’t had many injuries and availability has been good,” he said. “And the work ethic of the players has been really good.
“We are not the biggest side but we play rugby that suits us. We don’t deviate from what we are good at. Our back line is pretty smokey and our forwards are more lightweight than most packs and we use that to our advantage. All our players have good skill sets.”
But Jones is expecting a test from a Stafford side who beat Leek last weekend and who are battling to beat the drop.
“Stafford are scrapping to stay up,” said Jones. “They beat Leek last week, who are a good side, and they will come here and it give it a good crack. But our players are in good spirits.”
“We haven’t looked too far ahead all season, we have just gone from game to game and that will be the case again tomorrow.”
In same division, Telford Hornets’ testing campaign continues with a trip to Crewe.
Champions Shrewsbury have a free weekend after Cannock conceded their scheduled Midlands 3 West (North) clash.
