Shrewsbury still searching for first win

The Sundorne Road side have endured a nightmare start to the Midlands Two West North season, losing all five of their opening games.

A try from James Plant and penalty from Jamie Simpson wasn't enough on Saturday to stop Stafford claiming victory.

And Evitts admits a lack of confidence was a key factor in the defeat, said: "It was really disappointing because the build-up to the game had been good.

"We had two good training sessions and in the game we started well. But they scored a try from our mistake and because we had lost the last four we panicked.

"We tried to chase the game when we should have weathered the storm. We need a win to get back on track."

Newport produced their best performance of the season to date to down high-flying Bromsgrove 45-26 in National Three Midlands.

They recorded their fourth bonus point victory of the season with seven tries to cement a place in the top half of the table.

Bridgnorth fell to a narrow 7-3 defeat at Hereford as the two mid-table sides battled out an edgy Midlands Division One West clash.

Hereford had a player dismissed, but defended well as Bryan Smallman's side applied all the pressure with some attractive rugby.

Bridgnorth were grateful for the official's decision late on, as Hereford's kicker had his attempt disallowed for exceeding the allocated time limit.

The hosts, who secured a top three finish last season, missed out on four penalty attempts as Bridgnorth salvaged something from their trip with a losing bonus point.

Elsewhere in the division, sixth-placed Whitchurch ran out 27-13 winners at struggling Leek.

Will Sparrow's hat-trick of tries and 10 points from his boot led Ludlow to a convincing 45-12 win over Newcastle.

The result knocked the visitors off the top of Midlands Three West North.

The Linney side, who are now second, were smartly out of the blocks with a try on the scoreboard within three minutes and the bonus point secured before half-time.

In the Midlands Four West North, rock-bottom Market Drayton suffered a 53-17 home defeat to Uttoxeter.

Bishops Castle are sitting pretty in second place in Midlands Division Four West following a hard-fought 15-12 win over Aston Old Edwardians.

Telford Hornets tasted defeat on the road as they went down 24-7 at Rugeley.

Rugeley's strong pack continually pushed Hornets back at the set-piece, while the narrow pitch helped the hosts snuff out any attacks created by the visitors' back division.

The home side dominated the first half with three converted trys putting them 21-0 up. Matt Bird offered hope of a comeback when he crossed the line for Hornets after the break.

But a successful penalty for the hosts put them 24-7 up and they then saw out the rest of the game.

Oswestry maintained the pressure on the leaders in the Cheshire South Division after a 20-7 home win against Heaton Moor.

The victory, their seventh in eight outings, keeps the third-placed Eagles three points shy of top spot.

With Oswestry and Heaton Moor lying in third and fourth place respectively before the game, this was always going to be a tight encounter, and so it proved.