Rugby: Ludlow 17 Kenilworth 5

Impressive Ludlow maintained their perfect start to life in Midlands One West as they edged out Kenilworth 17-5 in their first home game of the campaign.

The south Shropshire side, promoted last season, had started with a narrow win at Dunlop a week earlier – and never looked like slipping up in this one.

But down-to-earth club spokesman Phil Norton insists they must not get carried away, with tougher games in store down the line.

"It's two out of two now, and it's a really good start to the season for us," said Norton. "But we're under no illusions that there are bigger teams to play yet.

"Nonetheless, we were the better team on Saturday and we deserved to win.

"Our performance aug-ered well for the games ahead."

Ludlow led through a Will Norton penalty, only to fall behind when the visitors capped a spell of pressure with the first try of the afternoon.

But the Linney men got back on top in the 10 minutes before half-time and restored their lead with a try for prop Mike Jones which was converted by Norton.

They added another score in the second period when Will Sparrow made an interception deep in his own half and set off on a run, setting up full-back Joe Doyle to go over under the posts.

Penalties

Whitchurch were playing their first game of the season, an impetigo outbreak having seen their scheduled opener postponed.

But they could not put their first points on the board, going down 16-5 at home to an Old Halesonians side who are heavily tipped to challenge for promotion.

The visitors were 10 points to the good by the time scrum-half Adam Churton scored the Reds' only try of the game.

Old Halesonians added two penalties in the second half.

Whitchurch gave a debut to 17-year-old winger Sam-uel Kendell, who has come up through the club's Colts.

But his afternoon ended prematurely as he was forced off with a shoulder injury.

l Oswestry maintained their strong start to the South Lancs/Cheshire Two campaign.

Having started with a 23-0 win over Trentham, they won a tense affair 6-3 at Southport to stay among the pace-setters.